Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin summarized the outcomes of a network researchers’ meeting in Berlin, highlighting the project’s key development directions under the Lean Ethereum concept. The focus areas include quantum resistance, privacy, scalability, and restructuring key protocol components.
According to him, this is not a single update but a series of changes to be implemented over the next three to four years, marking the “third major iteration of Ethereum” following The Merge.
The new architecture will affect almost all major protocol components. Specifically, the network will:
- transition to block verification using recursive STARK proofs; replace cryptographic algorithms vulnerable to quantum computers;
- update the consensus mechanism;
- introduce a multidimensional gas model;
- redesign client architecture and the network’s state storage system.
One of the main changes is the increased priority of quantum resistance. Previously considered a long-term goal, protection against potential quantum computer attacks is now a key development focus. This includes accelerating work on quantum-resistant cryptography and a new format for BLOB data.
Privacy will also be a priority. Buterin stated that privacy is no longer seen as an additional feature and is now considered in the design of all new network components—from the mempool to data storage mechanisms. Developers also plan to expand the use of formal verification to enhance protocol security and simplify component verification.
Buterin described the update to the data storage model as the most radical change. Instead of further scaling the existing network state, developers propose preserving it for complex applications while adding new, more scalable storage types for tokens, NFTs, and most DeFi applications. Buterin estimates that by 2030, Ethereum will be able to support around 2 TB of traditional state and up to 100 TB of the new optimized format simultaneously.
Additionally, the team is considering a gradual transition to a new virtual machine. In the future, the protocol may move away from direct dependence on EVM in favor of RISC-V or leanISA architectures, maintaining compatibility with existing applications through a compilation layer.
Buterin also mentioned that in the coming years, the network will continue to gradually increase the gas limit, BLOB data volume, and reduce slot time. He noted that each change will only be implemented after developers ensure its safety through client software optimization and protocol updates.
Earlier, the Ethereum ecosystem launched an independent non-profit organization, Ethereum Institutional, to promote the network among banks, asset managers, and other financial institutions.
