Ethereum on the Brink? Buterin Drops Four Urgent Red Flags

Ethereum’s co-founder isn’t mincing words—Vitalik Buterin just issued four stark warnings that could rattle the crypto ecosystem. From scalability bottlenecks to creeping centralization, the blockchain darling faces make-or-break challenges.

First up: The ’modular vs. monolithic’ debate heats up as L2 solutions strain under transaction loads. Then there’s the staking paradox—more validators might mean less decentralization. Oh, and about those quantum computers? They’re not just sci-fi threats anymore.

Wall Street’s already circling like vultures—some hedge funds are reportedly shorting ETH while publicly praising it. Classic finance double-play. Can Ethereum outmaneuver its existential threats, or will 2025 be the year the ’world computer’ stutters?

In Brief

• Vitalik emphasizes the need for reliable and energy-efficient ZK proofs (~10 kW).
• He pushes for a scalable Ethereum with a gas limit multiplied by 10 to 100.
• Stateless nodes will enable secure, local access that is easier to manage.
• EIP-4444 limits historical data retention to 36 days, reducing the load.

The Sine Qua Non Conditions According to Vitalik Buterin for a Sustainable Layer 1

Vitalik Buterin is not the type to be content with just presenting his ambitious projects for 2025 and then disappearing: he insists, applies pressure, and shares. For him, amust meet. First, the network’s performance must be measured under normal and extreme situations. According to him:

Before real-time proofing is deemed production ready, strict cryptographic guarantees are required.

This requirement is based on the, which recently achieved a major breakthrough with. But this feat, while Vitalik dreams of a network that could be validated at home with only 10 kW.

Finally, he insists on the, hoping for a multiplication by 10, even 100. Vitalik writes: “We want 10-100x the L1 gas limit.”

The ambition is clear:.

Ethereum Copies Bitcoin: Simplicity and Sovereignty at the Heart of the Vision

Vitalik does not hide. He stresses that its structure is “so simple a high schooler can understand it.” This simplicity is a source ofand. By contrast,that hampers adoption. To address this, Vitalik proposes aligning Ethereum with this philosophy.

This approach is coupled with. He states that local nodes are essential for trustless and censorship-resistant access to the blockchain. The, which store only part of the data, represent a key evolution.

Vitalik explains that these partially stateless nodes “offer direct local access to relevant data while ensuring maximum privacy.” This approach is designed to guarantee that, SAFE from centralization.

Sovereignty and Decentralization: Pillars of a Resilient Ethereum

Vitalik continuously reminds us that. According to him, scaling the network should not come at the expense of this decentralization. That’s why he proposes solutions to lighten the nodes’ burden, such as. This measure aims to facilitate the maintenance of personal nodes.

Vitalik Buterin also specifies:

Outsourced ZK solutions will remain costly, and do not protect against RPC censorship.

These remarks recall. He wants Ethereum to remain a network where anyone can validate, read, and write freely. These technical innovations are part of a humanistic and pragmatic vision. They combine performance and respect for digital freedoms.

Here are some key figures to understand this vision:

• Real-time ZK proof completed in under 12 seconds by Succinct;
• Current energy consumption of 100 kW, targeted reduction to 10 kW;
• Ethereum aims to increase its gas limit by 10 to 100 times;
• Reduction of local data storage to 36 days via EIP-4444;
• 15 million Ethereum users affected by these changes.

With a man like Vitalik Buterin, so determined and hardworking, Ethereum doesn’t rest. Proposals follow one after another and updates are constant. On the price side, Ethereum’s crypto follows in bitcoin’s footsteps. Some analysts put forward three solid reasons to believe ETH could reach $5,000 this year: increased adoption, major technical improvements, and a favorable market dynamic. This trajectory illustrates the rise of an ever more robust and ambitious network.

Maximize your Cointribune experience with our "Read to Earn" program! For every article you read, earn points and access exclusive rewards. Sign up now and start earning benefits.