Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming Ethereum into a network that’s as simple, efficient, and secure as Bitcoin over the next five years. In his recent blog post titled “Simplifying the L1,” published on May 3, Buterin outlines a comprehensive plan to restructure Ethereum’s architecture across its consensus, execution, and shared components.
Buterin argues that the key to Ethereum’s long-term scalability and resilience lies in its simplicity. Despite notable upgrades like proof-of-stake (PoS) and the integration of Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge (zk-SNARK), he points out that technical complications have created many hurdles, including bloated development cycles and heightened security risks.
“Historically, Ethereum has often not done this (sometimes because of my own decisions), and this has contributed to much of our excessive development expenditure, all kinds of security risk, and insularity of R&D culture,” Buterin stated. To combat these issues, he emphasizes taking inspiration from Bitcoin’s minimalist design, a principle that has contributed to Bitcoin’s longevity and popularity.
A central aspect of Buterin’s vision is the introduction of a 3-slot finality model, which intends to simplify Ethereum’s consensus mechanism by eliminating complex elements such as epochs and validator shuffling. This proposed change aims to enhance safety and efficiency, enabling simpler implementations of fork choice rules.
Buterin also suggests adopting the Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge (STARK)-based aggregation protocols. These protocols are expected to decentralize and simplify network coordination further. Moreover, he envisions a shift from the current Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to a more streamlined and ZK-friendly virtual machine like RISC-V, which could dramatically enhance performance, providing up to a 100x improvement for processing zero-knowledge proofs.
In addition to structural changes, Buterin calls for protocol-wide standardization. He advocates for using a single erasure coding method and serialization format, specifically suggesting the Serialized Simple Format (SSZ), which would help reduce redundant complexities within Ethereum’s infrastructure. This push for simplicity not only enhances accessibility for developers but also ensures that the network remains robust amid growing competition from other blockchain platforms.
“Simplicity is in many ways similar to decentralization,” Buterin asserts. He proposes implementing a “max line-of-code” target, similar to the approach used by Tinygrad, to ensure that consensus-critical logic remains lean, auditable, and secure while maintaining legacy features externally from the core specification.
Buterin’s push for simplification arises in a critical moment where Ethereum is losing market share to competing layer-1 blockchain networks. Industry experts, including Alex Svanevik, CEO of Nansen, shared insights about Ethereum’s declining dominance, stating that the landscape of blockchain technology has evolved significantly in the past few years.
As the cryptocurrency ecosystem grows, adaptability is crucial. Vitalik Buterin’s approach offers a forward-thinking solution aimed at retaining Ethereum’s relevance and efficiency, while fostering a more accessible environment for developers and users alike. As these proposals take shape, the future of Ethereum may very well reflect the simplicity and effectiveness that characterized Bitcoin’s rise in the blockchain arena.
