Optimum Reports Faster Ethereum Block Delivery Using mump2p

Ethereum validators have begun using Optimum’s mump2p networking protocol on mainnet, with the developer reporting faster block delivery through a data-sharing method that operates alongside existing consensus clients. According to CryptoNews, the protocol has operated on Ethereum mainnet since its October 20, 2026 launch.

Network Coding Implementation

Optimum reports Ethereum block propagation speeds up to 3.5 times faster through network coding technology. The protocol runs alongside existing Ethereum consensus clients without requiring changes to consensus rules themselves. According to Optimum co-founder and MIT professor Muriel Médard, the protocol uses Random Linear Network Coding to transmit coded combinations of data across Ethereum’s peer-to-peer network. In a statement, she said approximately 90% of blocks were reaching participating validators around twice as fast.

The protocol uses a gateway that connects through a gateway running alongside the validator’s existing consensus client, forwarding blocks and attestations between the normal Ethereum network and Optimum’s separate communication system. Participating operators do not need to replace their consensus software or introduce changes to Ethereum’s consensus rules, with the gateway supporting clients including Prysm, Lighthouse, Teku, Nimbus, and Lodestar.

Adoption and Metrics

Optimum reported that participating validators represented 7.8% of Ethereum’s total staked ETH by November, growing from over 3% at the October launch. At launch, the company reported 16 participating node operators managing approximately 22,000 validator keys and more than 1.4 million staked ETH, valued at approximately $3.4 billion as Total Value Boosted.

Participating operators included Blockdaemon, Everstake, P2P.org, Stakefish, Luganodes, InfStones, and Validation Cloud, while restaking provider ether.fi required its 12 node operators to use mump2p. The service remains available free of charge for validator block propagation.

Key facts

• Optimum launched its mump2p networking protocol on Ethereum mainnet on October 20, 2026.
• Participating validators represented 7.8% of Ethereum’s total staked ETH by November.
• The protocol uses Random Linear Network Coding to transmit coded combinations of data.
• Supported clients include Prysm, Lighthouse, Teku, Nimbus, and Lodestar without requiring consensus rule changes.