Arbitrum, Ethereum’s Layer 2 scaling solution, faced significant issues on December 15,
2023, due to a massive increase in network traffic, resulting in a partial outage lasting
approximately two hours.
The problem arose from a substantial network overload, causing a halt in the Arbitrum One
Sequencer and Feed. These components play a crucial role in the network’s normal
functioning by determining the order of transactions. When they fail, it disrupts the entire
network.
The consequences of the outage were substantial, lasting around two hours, with noticeable
delays and transaction failures. Although the Sequencer and Feed were eventually restored,
the network continued to experience issues, including high transaction fees.
The Arbitrum team acknowledged the problem and worked diligently to resolve it. They also
committed to providing a detailed post-incident report to explain what happened and the
measures taken.
Despite the swift resolution, the incident triggered various speculations within the crypto
community. Some believe that a high number of transactions, especially NFT minting,
contributed to the network’s limited capacity.
Other theories mention potential network glitches or security breaches. However, these
remain unconfirmed speculations at this time. The incident has also raised concerns about the
resilience and reliability of Arbitrum’s