Ethereum News Today: Ethereum unveils 10-year plan for 10,000 TPS with enhanced security and decentralization

Ethereum researcher Justin Drake has introduced a 10-year initiative titled “Lean Ethereum,” designed to scale the network to approximately 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) on the mainnet while enhancing security and preserving decentralization [1]. Published on the Ethereum Foundation blog, the proposal outlines two strategic modes—“fort mode” for security and “beast mode” for scalability—aimed at ensuring Ethereum remains operational under adversarial conditions such as nation-state threats and quantum computing risks [1]. The roadmap emphasizes long-term network survival, positioning Ethereum to function reliably for decades or even centuries [1].

The core of the plan involves reengineering the foundational layer of Ethereum using hash-based cryptography and optimizing the consensus, data, and execution sublayers. By doing so, the network aims to simultaneously bolster security and achieve significant scalability improvements [1]. For the mainnet, this includes aggressive vertical scaling to reach 10,000 TPS, while layer-2 (L2) blockchains are expected to scale horizontally to approximately 1 million TPS [1].

Key technological innovations in the roadmap include real-time zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVMs) for execution and data availability sampling (DAS) for throughput. These tools are intended to enhance performance without compromising security or decentralization [1]. Additionally, the roadmap highlights the importance of enabling full-chain verification on consumer devices like phones and browsers, improving usability for end users [1].

The proposal is structured around three “lean” sublayers: “Lean consensus,” “Lean data,” and “Lean execution.” “Lean consensus” (Beacon Chain 2.0) focuses on achieving near-instant finality and enhancing security. “Lean data” (Blobs 2.0) introduces post-quantum compatibility with granular data structures, maintaining a developer-friendly experience while increasing throughput. “Lean execution” (EVM 2.0) features a streamlined instruction set that retains EVM compatibility but accelerates verification and proving processes [1].

Hash-based cryptography is positioned as the foundational element across all layers. It replaces existing cryptographic constructs like BLS aggregate signatures and KZG commitments with hash-centric alternatives. This strategy is intended to protect Ethereum from quantum threats and align with the growing adoption of zero-knowledge proofs (SNARKs) [1].

Drake emphasized that the initiative is not just a technical roadmap but also an engineering philosophy. The concept centers on minimal modules, encapsulated complexity, and formal verification, aiming to reduce unnecessary elements while standardizing core components. This approach, referred to as “lean craft,” seeks to create a more robust and verifiable system [1].

The proposal has already drawn attention within the Ethereum community, with co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Drake recently discussing it at an ETH-focused event in Berlin [1]. The initiative reflects a broader effort to future-proof Ethereum while maintaining its core principles of security, decentralization, and usability.

Source: [1] Justin Drake reveals 10-year 'Lean Ethereum' roadmap to achieve 10k TPS on mainnet (https://cryptoslate.com/justin-drake-reveals-10-year-lean-ethereum-roadmap-to-achieve-10k-tps-on-mainnet/)