Draft Informational

EIP-7949: Genesis File Format

Schema for `genesis.json` files

Authors	Justin Florentine (@jflo) <justin@florentine.us> , Jochem Brouwer (@jochem-brouwer) <jochem@ethereum.org> , Barnabas Busa (@barnabasbusa) <bbusa@ethereum.org>
Created	2025-05-19
Discussion Link	https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/eip-xxxx-genesis-json-standardization/24271

Abstract

This EIP defines a canonical structure for Ethereum genesis files (genesis.json) used to bootstrap Ethereum networks. The standard aligns with the de facto structure implemented by Geth (Go-Ethereum), and already adopted by other clients. It introduces a JSON Schema to ensure consistency and tool compatibility across clients.

Motivation

The lack of an official standard for the genesis.json file has led to incompatibilities, bugs and confusion, as well as added workload for those running multiple clients together in test networks. This EIP aims to reduce ambiguity by defining a consistent structure and enabling tooling through schema-based validation.

Specification

The canonical genesis file MUST be a JSON object with the following top-level fields:

Top-Level Fields

Field	Type	Description	Example
`config`	Object	Chain configuration object.	(see below)
`alloc`	Object	Map of addresses to pre-allocated balances and/or code/storage.	(see below)
`nonce`	String	Block nonce as a hex string.	`0x0`
`timestamp`	String	UNIX timestamp as a hex string.	`0x6720f180`
`extraData`	String	Arbitrary extra data as hex string.	`0x00`
`gasLimit`	String	Block gas limit as a hex string.	`0x1c9c380`
`difficulty`	String	Block difficulty as a hex string.	`0x1`
`mixhash`	String	Mix hash as a hex string.	`0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000`
`coinbase`	String	Coinbase address as a hex string.	`0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000`

`config` Object

The config object contains hardfork activation block numbers and fork configurations. Known keys include:

Field	Type	Description	Example
`chainId`	Integer	Unique identifier for the blockchain as a decimal integer.	`1` (mainnet)
`<hardfork(Block\|Time)>`	Integer	Block height or timestamp to activate the named hardfork as a decimal integer.	`shanghaiTime: 1681338455`
`terminalTotalDifficulty`	String	Total difficulty after which to switch from PoW to PoS as a hex string.	`0xc70d815d562d3cfa955`
`depositContractAddress`	String	Ethereum address for the deposit contract as a hex string.	`0x00000000219ab540356cBB839Cbe05303d7705Fa`
`blobSchedule`	Object	Map of hardforks and their EIP-4844 DAS configuration parameters.	(see below)

`blobSchedule` Object

Field	Type	Description	Example
`target`	Integer	Desired number of blobs to include per block as a decimal integer.	`3`
`max`	Integer	Maximum number of blobs to include per block as a decimal integer.	`6`
`baseFeeUpdateFraction`	Integer	Input to pricing formula per EIP-4844 as a decimal integer.	`3338477`

`alloc` Object

The alloc field defines the initial state at genesis. It maps addresses (as hex strings) to the following object:

Field	Type	Description	Example
`balance`	String	Account balance in wei as a hex string.	`0xde0b6b3a7640000` (1 ETH)
`code`	String	EVM bytecode as a hex string.	`0x6060604052600436106100af576000357c0100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000`
`nonce`	String	Account nonce as a hex string.	`0x0`
`storage`	Object	Key-value map where keys and values are 32-byte hex strings representing storage slots.	`"0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001": "0x00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000ff"`

JSON Schema


{
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
  "$defs": {
    "hexUint": {
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^0x[0-9a-fA-F]+$"
    },
    "address": {
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^0x[0-9a-fA-F]{40}$"
    },
    "hash": {
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^0x[0-9a-f]{64}$"
    }
  },
  "title": "Ethereum Genesis File",
  "type": "object",
  "required": ["alloc", "gasLimit", "difficulty"],
  "properties": {
    "config": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "chainId": { "type": "integer" },
        "homesteadBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "daoForkBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "eip150Block": { "type": "integer" },
        "tangerineWhistleBlock": {"type": "integer"},
        "eip155Block": { "type": "integer" },
        "spuriousDragonBlock": {"type": "integer"},
        "byzantiumBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "constantinopleBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "petersburgBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "istanbulBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "muirGlacierBlock": {"type": "integer"},
        "berlinBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "londonBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "arrowGlacierBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "grayGlacierBlock": { "type": "integer" },
        "terminalTotalDifficulty": { "$ref": "#/$defs/hexUint" },
        "mergeNetsplitBlock": { "type": "integer"},
        "shanghaiTime": { "type": "integer"},
        "cancunTime": { "type": "integer"},
        "pragueTime": { "type": "integer"},
        "osakaTime": { "type": "integer"},
        "depositContractAddress": { "$ref": "#/$defs/address"},
        "blobSchedule": {
          "type": "object",
          "additionalProperties": {
            "type": "object",
            "properties": {
              "target": { "type": "integer" },
              "max": { "type": "integer" },
              "baseFeeUpdateFraction": { "type" : "integer" }
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "additionalProperties": true
    },
    "nonce": { "$ref": "#/$defs/hexUint" },
    "timestamp": { "$ref": "#/$defs/hexUint" },
    "extraData": {
      "anyOf": [
        {"type": "string", "const": "" },
        {"type": "string", "pattern": "^0x([0-9a-fA-F]{2})*$" }
      ]
    },
    "gasLimit": { "$ref": "#/$defs/hexUint" },
    "difficulty": { "$ref": "#/$defs/hexUint" },
    "mixhash": { "$ref": "#/$defs/hash" },
    "coinbase": { "$ref": "#/$defs/address" },
    "alloc": {
      "type": "object",
      "patternProperties": {
        "^0x[0-9a-fA-F]{40}$": {
          "type": "object",
          "properties": {
            "balance": { "$ref": "#/$defs/hexUint" },
            "nonce": { "$ref": "#/$defs/hexUint" },
            "code": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^0x([0-9a-f])*$" },
            "storage": {
              "type": "object",
              "patternProperties": {
                "^0x[0-9a-f]{64}$": {
                  "$ref": "#/$defs/hash"
                }
              }
            }
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      },
      "additionalProperties": false
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": true
}

Rationale

There are a growing number of EIPs that propose improvements to how a network is configured at genesis:

Add Blob Schedule to EL Config File

Blob Parameter Only Hardforks

eth_config JSON-RPC method

However, the root configuration element amended by these remains unspecified. Adopting a minimal schema to define that will make subsequent changes more accurate and concise.

Security Considerations

Since this is an optional and informational EIP, which offers only developer convenience, and must be used with admin access to the node, no new security concerns are introduced.

Copyright

Citation

Please cite this document as:

Justin Florentine, Jochem Brouwer, Barnabas Busa, "Genesis File Format," Ethereum Improvement Proposals, no. 7949, early access, May 2025. [Online serial]. Available: https://eips-wg.github.io/EIPs/7949/.