Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin summarized the results of a closed meeting of network researchers in Berlin and unveiled key development directions for the project under the Lean Ethereum concept. This is not about a single hard fork, but a series of fundamental changes that will be implemented over the next three to four years. In my assessment, this could indeed become the third major iteration of Ethereum after The Merge, comparable in scale to the transition to Proof-of-Stake.
What will change: from STARK to multidimensional gas
The new architecture will affect virtually all core components of the protocol. Specifically, the network will transition to block verification using recursive STARK proofs, replace cryptographic algorithms vulnerable to quantum computers, update the consensus mechanism, introduce a multidimensional fee model (multidimensional gas), and completely overhaul the client architecture and network state storage system.
One of the most significant shifts is the increased priority of quantum resistance. While protection against potential quantum computer attacks was previously considered a long-term and deferred task, it has now been brought to the forefront. Work on quantum-resistant cryptography and a new BLOB data format will accelerate. This is a sensible step, given the rapid progress in quantum computing.
Privacy as a core function
Another critical priority is privacy. Buterin emphasized that it is no longer viewed as an optional add-on and is now considered in the design of all new network components, from the mempool to data storage mechanisms. Developers also plan to expand the use of formal verification to enhance protocol security and simplify the verification of its components.
Radical restructuring of data storage
The most radical change, in my opinion, is the update to the data storage model. Instead of further scaling the existing network state, it is proposed to preserve 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 around 2 TB of traditional state and up to 100 TB of the new, optimized format.
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. This is an ambitious but logical evolution.
Buterin also stated that in the coming years, the network will continue to gradually increase the gas limit, BLOB data volume, and reduce the time between slots. Each such change will only be implemented after developers are confident in its safety, thanks to client software optimization and protocol updates.
My expert conclusion: The new Ethereum roadmap is not just a set of technical improvements, but a strategic response to the main challenges of the next decade: the quantum threat, the need for scaling, and growing privacy requirements. If the team manages to implement its plans, Ethereum will strengthen its position not only as a platform for DeFi but also as a fundamental layer for the entire crypto economy. However, investors and developers should closely monitor the timelines: such large-scale changes are rarely implemented without delays.