Ethereum Institutional, a non-profit co-founded by former Ethereum Foundation members, has endorsed EIP-8198, a proposal from research lab Ethlabs to reduce Ethereum's block time from 12 seconds to 10 seconds. The upgrade is scheduled as part of the Hegotá fork currently planned for 2027.
How EIP-8198 Works
The proposal, nicknamed "Quick Slots," targets Ethereum's slot time—the fixed interval at which validators propose new blocks. EIP-8198 would reduce this interval from 12 to 10 seconds.
The technical implementation requires a one-time client refactor that parameterizes slot timing. Rather than hardcoding the block interval, developers would create a configurable parameter, allowing future adjustments without requiring additional hard forks. The initial reduction to 10 seconds is framed as a stepping stone for potential further optimization.
Current Ethereum finality typically takes around 15 minutes across two epochs. While EIP-8198 does not directly overhaul finality mechanisms, faster block production improves overall network responsiveness.
Institutional Support and Market Impact
Ethereum Institutional co-founder Matthew Dawson framed the endorsement in financial terms, arguing that improved block speed enhances Ethereum's appeal to institutional actors by strengthening confidence in the platform's usability as financial infrastructure.
For decentralized exchanges, reducing block confirmation time from 12 to 10 seconds narrows the window in which market makers face price movement risk, potentially reducing bid-ask spreads by approximately 17%.
EIP-8198 supporters also highlight potential censorship resistance benefits, particularly when combined with FOCIL (Forced Inclusion Lists), a proposed mechanism designed to prevent validators from selectively excluding transactions.
Community Response
Ethlabs, which launched on June 22, 2026, as a non-profit research lab backed by Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin and staffed by former Ethereum Foundation researchers, gathered feedback from approximately 20 major ecosystem participants. This group includes protocols such as Lido and Ondo. No significant concerns were raised regarding decentralization or validator participation.
Next Steps
The parameterization design of EIP-8198 establishes a framework for the Ethereum community to adjust block times through governance proposals rather than requiring full protocol upgrades for each change. Technical execution during the Hegotá upgrade will determine whether the proposal advances as planned.
