At a recent meeting of network researchers in Berlin, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin summarized the results and presented an updated concept for the project's development — Lean Ethereum. This is not a one-time hard fork, but a series of fundamental changes that will be implemented over the next three to four years. Essentially, we are on the verge of the third major iteration of the blockchain after The Merge.
Quantum Protection from the Future Becomes a Priority of the Present
The most significant shift in priorities is quantum resistance. If earlier the threat from quantum computers seemed a distant prospect, it has now been elevated to one of the key development directions. Accelerated work is planned on quantum-resistant cryptography and a new BLOB data format. This is a sensible step: embedding protection at the protocol level now is much cheaper and safer than urgently patching holes after a real threat emerges.
Privacy as a Standard, Not an Option
Another important point is that privacy ceases to be an additional feature. It is now being embedded into the architecture of all new network components: from the mempool to storage systems. Developers also intend to more actively implement formal verification to enhance security and simplify auditing.
Radical Storage Restructuring and New Data Types
The boldest proposal concerns the network state storage model. Instead of endlessly scaling the existing "heavy" state, developers propose preserving it for complex applications but adding new, more efficient storage types for tokens, NFTs, and most DeFi protocols. Buterin predicts that by 2030, Ethereum will be able to support about 2 TB of traditional state and up to 100 TB of the new, optimized format.
Evolution of the Virtual Machine and Consensus
Plans also include transitioning to block verification via recursive STARK proofs, updating the consensus mechanism, and implementing a multidimensional gas fee model. The team is considering a gradual move away from direct dependence on the EVM in favor of RISC-V or leanISA architectures, maintaining compatibility through a compilation layer. This will make the network more flexible and performant.
In parallel, the gradual increase in the gas limit, BLOB data volume, and reduction of slot time will continue. Each change will be implemented only after thorough security verification.
My view: Lean Ethereum is not just another upgrade, but an attempt to lay down an architecture capable of withstanding the load of the next decade. The emphasis on quantum resistance is particularly telling: the market often underestimates this risk, but the Ethereum team is clearly preparing for it in advance, which strengthens the network's long-term foundation.