Buterin has revised Ethereum's priorities: quantum protection, AI verification, and a new scaling philosophy.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has presented an updated vision for the network's development that significantly differs from the 2023 roadmap. In the new "strawmap," quantum resistance, protocol-level privacy, and the use of artificial intelligence for formal code verification take center stage. This is not just a tweak — it is a shift in the philosophy of developing the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
The original plan included six phases — The Merge, The Surge, The Scourge, The Verge, The Purge, and The Splurge. However, the revised version, published by the Ethereum Foundation on August 4 and projected through 2029, demonstrates a radical rethinking of priorities. According to Buterin, the new map includes elements that were not even considered in 2023.
Privacy as a foundation
The key change is that privacy is no longer an application-layer option but has become a requirement for the protocol itself. This refers to mechanisms that hide user activity and balances, including constructs like wormholes that allow transferring funds without revealing the full transaction history. The FOCIL mechanism is also integrated here — forced inclusion of transactions in a block, which will become the main innovation of the Hegota hard fork.
Quantum resistance and Lean Ethereum
The second new block is post-quantum cryptography and simplification of the technical base. The Lean Ethereum project combines a series of upgrades capable of rewriting virtually every key element of the protocol. As early as July, Buterin called this the "third major iteration" of Ethereum, estimating the work timeline at three to four years. The long-term outlook even allows for replacing the EVM with alternative formats such as RISC-V and leanISA — a step that until recently seemed unthinkable.
AI in formal verification
To verify the operation of the Ethereum protocol, STARK proofs and formal verification using artificial intelligence will be employed. Buterin emphasizes that this approach is safe only under the condition of formal verification, which, in turn, has become feasible only thanks to modern AI tools. This is an acknowledgment that the system's complexity has exceeded the capabilities of traditional audit methods.
A new approach to scaling
The abandonment of universal acceleration for all types of activity is another important metamorphosis. Instead, developers are creating specialized mechanisms with strict constraints: they lose in versatility but win in complex scenarios — from token transfers to privacy protocols. The map also includes BLOB structures and gas futures that did not exist in 2023, while many previous plans to improve the EVM have been shelved.
It is worth noting that the strawmap remains a living draft rather than a rigid schedule. The Ethereum Foundation has already faced criticism for postponing deadlines — in June, the organization cut 20% of its staff and restructured around five clusters. In parallel, a group of researchers proposed reducing staking rewards, which, according to SharpLink analysts, could deprive the network of its main competitive advantage over bitcoin — passive income from ownership.
My view: the transition to post-quantum security is not just a technical necessity but a strategic move that could determine Ethereum's fate over the next decade. However, the plan's ambition raises questions: can the team maintain the pace given the structural changes already made in the foundation? Time will tell, but one thing is clear — Ethereum is entering a phase of deep transformation, and investors should closely monitor developments.