The Ethereum Foundation has released the "lean Ethereum" vision: a ten-year blueprint for quantum safety and minimalism.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Ethereum (ETH), the Ethereum Foundation (EF) officially released the "lean Ethereum" vision yesterday, serving as a development blueprint and personal mission for the next decade. This vision emphasizes a new generation of Cryptography at its core, balancing extreme performance, security, and Decentralization, and proposes a dual-track strategy of "fortress mode" and "beast mode" to promote Ethereum as the cornerstone of the value internet. The upgrade covers three major sub-layers: consensus layer, data layer, and execution layer, aiming to achieve a dual breakthrough in performance and security while addressing future threats such as quantum computing. The foundation stated that "lean Ethereum" is not only a technological upgrade but also a manifestation of minimalism and craftsmanship, aimed at establishing an unbreakable Ethereum network for future generations.

1. "lean Ethereum" project: Quantum security and technology stack simplification

(Source: Lean Ethereum Initiative)

Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake proposed the "lean Ethereum" initiative, aimed at making the first layer smart contract network quantum secure while simplifying Ethereum's tech stack, including the consensus layer, data layer, and execution layer.

Zero-knowledge driven virtual machine: Researchers have proposed a zero-knowledge driven virtual machine, which is a method of verifying on-chain data without revealing the content of the data. This can make the execution layer resistant to quantum attacks and enhance security.

Data availability sampling: Drak calls for data availability sampling to reduce the storage requirements of the Ethereum blockchain while maintaining block integrity. Data availability sampling is a technique that checks random snippets of a block to ensure the accuracy of the block without requiring nodes to download the entire block to determine its validity.

RISC-V Framework: He also proposed adopting the RISC-V framework, which is a set of simplified computer instructions designed to indicate to the computer processor what operations to perform. This will make the Consensus layer more secure while simplifying the technical components of consensus. Supporters of the RISC-V framework believe it enhances security by reducing the potential attack surface and backdoors of the network and its constituent nodes.

Developers continue to call for a simpler Ethereum technology stack to enhance usability for blockchain developers while reducing complexity and limiting backdoors. The smart contract network is constantly criticized by developers due to its technical complexity.

2. Vitalik Buterin's Concerns and Responses

(Source: Lean Ethereum Initiative)

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and other developers have expressed similar concerns. In May of this year, Vitalik Buterin stated that he hopes to simplify Ethereum's tech stack in the next five years, making the blockchain network's architecture as simple as Bitcoin's. Vitalik mentioned that the excessive technological development on Ethereum "has led to our excessive development expenditure, various security risks, and the isolation of the R&D culture, often in pursuit of some proven illusory benefits." Buterin also proposed switching to the RISC-V architecture in April to make the network faster and more resilient.

Others, such as Fan Xinxin, the Cryptography Director of the decentralized blockchain platform IoTeX, proposed a hash-based zero-knowledge proof as a way to provide quantum protection to the entire network without sacrificing user experience.

3. Ethereum Lean Plan: Ambitions of the Ten-Year Roadmap

Ethereum announced a ten-year strategic roadmap called the "Ethereum Lean Plan," aimed at significantly enhancing the network's scalability, security, and decentralization. The plan was announced on the occasion of Ethereum's tenth anniversary and outlines ambitious goals, including achieving a base layer throughput of 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) and a gas consumption of 1 billion per second, aimed at breaking current limitations and preparing for future demands. Additionally, the plan sets the scalability target for Layer 2 at 1 million transactions per second to ensure Ethereum remains competitive amid the continuous growth in demand for decentralized applications.

A major focus of the roadmap is the development of anti-quantum cryptography measures. As concerns about the potential threats of quantum computing grow within the blockchain industry, Ethereum is actively integrating forward-looking security solutions to ensure its infrastructure is future-proof. The Ethereum Foundation emphasizes that these enhancements are crucial for maintaining the network's resilience against emerging technological challenges.

Decentralization is another core theme of the plan, aiming to simplify network infrastructure, streamline developer documentation, and lower technical barriers. The roadmap also emphasizes measures to expand user accessibility, provide diverse technical support, and attract a global developer community to facilitate broader contributions. Through these initiatives, Ethereum aims to lower the entry barriers for users and developers, making the platform more attractive and accessible on a global scale.

The Ethereum Lean Plan also emphasizes the importance of continuous service availability, with the network aimed at providing uninterrupted service to users. This includes infrastructure upgrades designed to achieve seamless and fast transaction processing. The Ethereum Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a secure and scalable network architecture that will support the development of next-generation applications and smart contracts.

Conclusion:

The "lean Ethereum" vision released by the Ethereum Foundation paints a clear blueprint for the future of Ethereum over the next decade. Through the pursuit of quantum security, simplified tech stacks, and extreme performance, Ethereum aims to build a more secure, efficient, and decentralized network. This ambitious plan will determine whether Ethereum can continue to serve as the cornerstone of the value internet in the ever-changing technological landscape.