Ethereum Co-Founder Proposes Major Overhaul to Simplify Network

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a significant overhaul of the Ethereum network, aiming to simplify its architecture, enhance scalability, and boost long-term stability. Inspired by Bitcoin’s minimalist design, Buterin’s plan seeks to address the growing complexity of Ethereum, which has led to slower performance, higher costs, and greater security risks.

In his May 3 blog post, “Simplifying the L1,” Buterin outlined a roadmap to bring Ethereum closer to the simplicity of Bitcoin while preserving its functionality as a decentralized platform. The key changes proposed include reducing the number of validator signatures from around 28,000 to just 8,192 per slot. This drastic reduction would reduce network congestion and enhance Ethereum’s performance, particularly during high-traffic periods.

Another ambitious proposal is to shift from the current Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to a simpler, ZK-friendly VM like RISC-V. This change would significantly improve zero-knowledge proof functionality, enhancing both security and scalability. Additionally, Buterin aims to reduce technical debt by standardizing data formats across the protocol, making Ethereum easier to maintain, upgrade, and expand.

These changes would collectively make Ethereum faster, more secure, and more developer-friendly, moving it closer to Bitcoin’s streamlined framework while retaining its unique capabilities as a smart contract platform. Buterin’s proposal calls for a return to a more minimalist design, taking cues from Bitcoin to make Ethereum easier to develop on and more appealing to long-term investors.

Buterin also highlights a growing concern: Ethereum’s increasing centralization and financialization. He believes that simplifying Ethereum’s core architecture is key to preserving its cypherpunk origins, focusing on privacy, decentralization, and open-source principles. This vision aims to ensure Ethereum remains a platform that empowers users, rather than one that becomes overly commercialized or centralized.

The crypto community has generally reacted positively to Buterin’s proposal, with many believing that this shift aligns Ethereum with the foundational values of blockchain technology and positions it for long-term success. Over the coming months, Buterin plans to release detailed specifications, gather feedback from the developer community, and begin phased testing of the proposed changes.

These updates will focus on reducing complexity, enhancing scalability, and strengthening the network’s long-term sustainability, all while fostering deeper collaboration with the Ethereum community. This back-to-basics move could reshape Ethereum’s future, positioning it as a more efficient and secure platform for decentralized applications and smart contracts.