Simplifying Ethereum: A New Path to Efficiency and Resilience
In a remarkable shift in Ethereum’s strategic plan, co-founder Vitalik Buterin has advocated for streamlining the base protocol of Ethereum. This initiative aims to enhance the network’s efficiency and robustness, aligning with the long-term vision for this globally influential blockchain.
Strategies for Achieving Protocol Simplicity in Ethereum
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On May 3rd, Vitalik Buterin published a thought-provoking blog post titled “Simplifying the L1,” where he emphasized the importance of simplicity in bolstering scalability and resilience within the Ethereum network. He highlighted the elegance of Bitcoin’s blockchain simplicity as a benchmark worth aspiring to.
Buterin remarked, “Even a smart high school student is capable of fully wrapping their head around and understanding the Bitcoin protocol. A programmer is capable of writing a client as a hobby project.”
Buterin elaborates that simplifying protocols offers numerous advantages, including reducing infrastructure costs, lowering maintenance expenses, and minimizing vulnerabilities to bugs and cyber threats. These factors are essential for maintaining the credibility and trustworthiness of blockchain networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Optimizing the Consensus Layer
Buterin envisions a path where, in five years, Ethereum can approach the simplicity seen in Bitcoin. One proposed method to achieve this is through refining the consensus layer, particularly by redesigning it to a 3-slot finality structure.
Simplifying the Execution Layer
He also pointed out the unnecessary complexities that have developed within the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). To counter this, Buterin suggests introducing a new minimal virtual machine, potentially similar to RISC-V, to streamline operations. The challenge lies in balancing simplification with maintaining backward compatibility for existing applications.
Unified Protocol Standards
The third and often overlooked method for enhancing protocol simplicity is the unification of standards across different protocol sections. Buterin argues that consistency in protocols can eliminate inefficiencies and promote a more streamlined operation.
In his conclusion, Buterin draws parallels between simplicity and decentralization, both of which are crucial for ensuring the resilience of blockchain networks.
Current State of Ethereum’s Market Performance
While Buterin focuses on refining the Ethereum network, investors are keen to see how these changes impact the value of the Ether token. The year 2025 has been challenging for ETH, with the token experiencing four consecutive months of decline.
As of now, Ether’s price hovers around $1,817, marking a 1.6% drop over the past 24 hours. However, it’s noteworthy that ETH has witnessed a bullish trend recently, with its value surging by nearly 15% in the last two weeks.
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