Ethereum's Future: Vitalik Buterin Advocates for Simplification

For many years, Ethereum's development has focused on expansion, with goals such as increasing transaction capacity, adding layers, and bringing in a billion new users. However, Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s Co-Founder, now argues that the platform's long-term longevity may rely on simplifying its features.

Key Takeaways

Vitalik Buterin emphasizes that Ethereum's survival may require simplifying its protocol.
The “walkaway test” is essential for ensuring Ethereum functions independently of its current developers.
Complexity in the core code can lead to reliance on a few experts, undermining decentralization.
“Garbage collection” involves moving older features out of the core while maintaining functionality.
Buterin envisions Ethereum evolving from a "World Computer" to a "Hyperstructure" focused on security and efficiency.

Buterin is on the runway to enhance ETH

He refers to this process as “protocol simplicity” or what he calls “garbage collection” for the Ethereum blockchain. Buterin believes that Ethereum has accumulated unnecessary code, outdated design choices, and intricate features over time that are no longer crucial. If these aspects are not addressed, they can complicate the network, making it difficult to understand, maintain, and operate.

Understanding the Core Issues

One significant concern raised by Buterin involves the “walkaway test.” He emphasizes that Ethereum should be able to operate independently even if today’s core developers were to vanish. New teams should be able to comprehend the protocol, build new clients, and maintain the network without relying on insider knowledge or a select few experts.

This idea connects to the fundamental notion of decentralization. A system loses its trustless nature if it becomes understandable only to a small group of highly specialized individuals. When users must rely on others to navigate how a protocol functions, the core principle of decentralization weakens. As Ethereum evolves, Buterin aims for it to be the most straightforward, leanest, and transparent system possible, ensuring that proficient developers can trust it, even decades into the future.

Concerns Underlying Protocol Complexity

Currently, numerous discussions in the blockchain space revolve around metrics like transactions per second and network node counts. However, Buterin warns that these figures are insignificant if the underlying code is convoluted and difficult to decipher. He highlights what he terms the “High Priest” problem: if a protocol relies on highly advanced cryptography, ordinary developers must depend on those experts, contradicting the belief that the system is self-sovereign.

As Buterin articulates, a protocol cannot be considered truly trustless if users need a select group of specialists to clarify the guarantees it provides. This also introduces a “walkaway” risk, further complicating the reliance on the technology.

Simplifying Without Sacrificing the Past

Buterin’s notion of “garbage collection” does not mean discarding everything from Ethereum's past. Instead, it involves repositioning outdated features out of the main protocol and finding smarter alternatives to manage them. For example, account abstraction could enable old transaction types and conventional wallets to be governed by smart contracts rather than being embedded in the core protocol.

The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) may eventually be substituted with a simpler framework. The EVM itself would not be eliminated—it could operate as a contract within this new system. This way, developers won’t be burdened with the necessity of permanently supporting legacy versions of Ethereum, allowing them to focus on contemporary clients while maintaining older versions in isolated settings.

The Evolution of Ethereum

In conclusion, Buterin perceives Ethereum’s first 15 years as a formative period filled with rapid growth, experimentation, and unavoidable errors. While this phase was essential, it cannot continue indefinitely. The next chapter involves a strategic approach centered on simplification and reinforcing the foundational aspects of Ethereum.

Buterin captures his vision succinctly: “Basically, we want to improve Ethereum in a way that looks like this:”

Buterin on ETH's future

Source: Vitalik Buterin/X

With these insights and strategies, Buterin signals a shift in Ethereum's narrative by 2026, focusing not just on being a “World Computer” capable of performing all tasks but transforming into a “Hyperstructure” dedicated to reliable and secure operations.

Final Thoughts

Ethereum’s journey is far from over. By embracing simplification, it has the potential to reinforce its foundational principles and adaptability, ensuring that it remains a vital player in the ever-evolving landscape of blockchain technology.