Buterin rewrote Ethereum's priorities: quantum protection, AI verification, and new architecture
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has presented an updated vision for the network's development that significantly shifts priorities compared to the 2023 roadmap. In the new version — the so-called "strawmap," projected through 2029 — quantum resistance, protocol-level privacy, and formal code verification using artificial intelligence take center stage.
The initial plan included six phases: The Merge, The Surge, The Scourge, The Verge, The Purge, and The Splurge. However, as Buterin emphasizes, the updated scheme introduces entirely new elements that did not exist in the previous edition. This is not merely a reshuffling of priorities but a qualitative shift in architectural thinking.
Privacy as a Foundation
The key change is that privacy is no longer an optional application-layer add-on but has become a mandatory requirement for the protocol itself. This involves mechanisms that conceal user activity and balances, as well as constructs like "wormholes" that allow transferring funds without revealing the full transaction history. Integrated here is also the FOCIL mechanism — forced inclusion of transactions into blocks — which will become the central innovation of the Hegota hard fork.
Quantum Resistance and Lean Ethereum
The second new block is post-quantum cryptography and a radical simplification of the technical base. The Lean Ethereum concept combines a series of upgrades capable of rewriting virtually every key element of the protocol. Buterin calls this the "third major iteration" of Ethereum, estimating the scope of work at three to four years. In the long term, even replacing the EVM virtual machine with alternative formats such as RISC-V and leanISA is considered possible.
AI in Formal Verification
Of particular note is the expanded use of artificial intelligence. To verify the operation of the Ethereum protocol, STARK proofs and formal verification with AI tools will be employed. According to Buterin, the security of such a complex system is only possible through formal verification, which, in turn, is feasible only with modern AI solutions.
A New Approach to Scaling
The scaling philosophy has also changed. Developers have abandoned attempts to uniformly accelerate all types of activity, instead betting on specialized mechanisms with strict constraints. These lose in versatility but win in complex scenarios — from token transfers and swaps to future privacy protocols. The map also includes BLOB structures and gas futures that were absent in 2023, while many previous plans for improving the EVM have been shelved.
It is worth noting that the strawmap remains a living draft. The Ethereum Foundation has already faced criticism for timeline delays and resource reallocation: in June, the organization cut 20% of its staff and restructured around five clusters. Additionally, in early August, a group of researchers proposed reducing staking rewards, which, according to some analysts, could strip the network of its main competitive advantage over bitcoin — passive income from ownership.
My analysis: The revision of priorities is a timely response to emerging threats. Quantum computing power is no longer theoretical, and AI tools have reached a level where formal verification becomes practical. However, the risk of team overload and delays remains high: combining three ambitious directions within a single window until 2029 is an extremely complex task. Investors should closely monitor the execution of phases rather than announcements.