Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin summarized the results of a recent meeting of network researchers in Berlin and presented key development directions for the project under the Lean Ethereum concept. This is not about a one-time hard fork, but a series of fundamental changes that will be implemented over the next three to four years. Essentially, this is the third major iteration of Ethereum after The Merge.
The new architecture will affect virtually all key components of the protocol. In particular, the network will transition to block verification using recursive STARK proofs, which will radically improve scalability. At the same time, Ethereum will replace cryptographic algorithms vulnerable to quantum attacks with quantum-resistant ones. This change is not just an "item on a list," but one of the main priorities, now shifted from a long-term perspective to the coming years.
Privacy as a Protocol Foundation
Another key priority is privacy. Buterin emphasized that it is no longer considered an optional add-on. Confidentiality is now being embedded at the design level of all new network components — from the mempool to data storage mechanisms. Developers also plan to expand the use of formal verification to enhance security and simplify protocol auditing.
Other important changes include the implementation of a multidimensional gas model, an update to the consensus mechanism, and a redesign of client architecture.
Radical Storage Model Update
I consider the most daring change to be the revision of the data storage model. Instead of endlessly scaling the existing network state, developers propose preserving it for complex applications while simultaneously adding new, more scalable storage types for tokens, NFTs, and most DeFi applications. According to Buterin's estimate, by 2030, Ethereum will be able to simultaneously support about 2 TB of traditional state and up to 100 TB of the new, optimized format. This fundamentally changes the economics of data storage on the network.
Additionally, the team is considering a gradual transition to a new virtual machine. In the long term, the protocol may move away from direct dependence on the EVM in favor of RISC-V or leanISA architectures, maintaining compatibility with existing applications through a compilation layer.
Buterin also reported that in the coming years, the network will continue to gradually increase the gas limit, the volume of BLOB data, and reduce the time between slots. Each such change will be implemented only after thorough security checks, thanks to client software optimization and protocol updates.
My comment: The presented roadmap demonstrates that Ethereum is transitioning from a phase of "rapid growth" to a phase of "deep optimization." I consider the shift in focus to quantum resistance particularly important — this is not just protection against a hypothetical threat, but a strategic move that could give Ethereum a significant advantage over competitors in the long term. If the team succeeds in implementing its plans, Ethereum could become not just a platform for DeFi, but a full-fledged quantum-resistant next-generation computing network.