Ethereum is preparing for its next major transformation.
Following a gathering of Ethereum researchers in Berlin, Vitalik Buterin published an updated roadmap titled "Lean Ethereum" describing it as the network's most significant redesign since The Merge.
Rather than introducing one massive upgrade, Buterin explained that the changes will be rolled out gradually over the next three to four years, allowing Ethereum to modernize its infrastructure without disrupting existing applications.
Ethereum Enters Its Third Major Era
According to Buterin, Lean Ethereum represents the blockchain's third major evolution.
The first was Ethereum's original launch, while the second came with The Merge, which transitioned the network from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS).
Now, Ethereum is preparing to rebuild nearly every major protocol component.
Two weeks ago, Ethereum researchers met in Berlin to continue charting the protocol's long-term trajectory, following along discussions with client teams in Svalbard in April.
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) July 4, 2026
The updated strawmap is at https://t.co/HZEerH1xxI, and I attached a picture of it to this post.
My… pic.twitter.com/KPGayHSySf
Two weeks ago, Ethereum researchers met in Berlin to continue charting the protocol's long-term trajectory, following along discussions with client teams in Svalbard in April.
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) July 4, 2026
The updated strawmap is at https://t.co/HZEerH1xxI, and I attached a picture of it to this post.
My… pic.twitter.com/KPGayHSySf
The roadmap has been published as part of Ethereum's public development plans, giving developers, Layer-2 networks, and ecosystem participants visibility into the blockchain's long-term direction.
Major Technical Changes Planned
The roadmap introduces sweeping architectural improvements designed to make Ethereum more scalable, efficient, and secure.
Among the planned upgrades are:
- Recursive STARK-based verification replacing direct transaction re-execution.
- Quantum-resistant cryptography replacing vulnerable components.
- Faster one-or two-round transaction finality.
- Multidimensional gas pricing to improve network efficiency.
- New state storage architectures.
- Improvements to Ethereum client software.
Buterin emphasized that these upgrades will be introduced gradually to minimize disruption.
Privacy and Quantum Security Become Core Priorities
One of the biggest philosophical shifts in Lean Ethereum is treating privacy as a built-in feature rather than an optional enhancement.
Buterin said future protocol development will prioritize privacy across multiple components of the network.
At the same time, Ethereum is accelerating work on post-quantum security.
Developers have already been researching quantum-safe blob designs, with Buterin identifying quantum resistance as one of the network's highest priorities as computing technology continues to advance.
A New Vision for Ethereum's State Storage
The roadmap also outlines an ambitious redesign of how Ethereum stores blockchain data.
Rather than dramatically expanding today's dynamic state model, Buterin proposes introducing additional state formats that are easier to scale while maintaining compatibility with existing applications.
Under his long-term vision, Ethereum by 2030 could maintain approximately:
- 2 terabytes of traditional dynamic state.
- 100 terabytes of newer, highly scalable state storage.
Applications such as ERC-20 tokens, NFTs, and many DeFi protocols could gradually migrate to the new architecture, while decentralized exchanges and order books continue operating under the existing model.
Importantly, migration would remain optional, although financial incentives would encourage developers to adopt the newer system.
Ethereum May Eventually Move Beyond the EVM
Another major proposal involves replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) as Ethereum's primary execution environment.
Buterin suggested future architectures such as RISC-V or leanISA, where the current EVM would eventually function as a compiler target rather than the blockchain's execution engine.
Such a transition could significantly improve performance while preserving compatibility with existing smart contracts.
Roadmap Comes During Foundation Restructuring
The announcement arrives during a period of significant organizational change for the Ethereum Foundation.
Earlier this year, the foundation reduced its operating budget by roughly 40% and eliminated approximately 20% of its workforce as part of a broader restructuring effort.
Several former Ethereum researchers have since launched Ethlabs, an independent nonprofit focused on supporting Ethereum development.
Despite the internal changes, Buterin's roadmap signals that Ethereum's long-term vision remains focused on improving scalability, privacy, decentralization, and security while preparing the network for the next generation of blockchain adoption.
