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Vitalik Buterin said Ethereum needs to quit pretending it’s fine. On Friday, he published a long proposal calling for Ethereum to cut out its over-complicated guts and move closer to the clean structure of Bitcoin within five years. “Ethereum wants to be the world’s ledger,” Vitalik wrote, pointing to its role as a base layer for crypto, finance, governance, authentication, and records. But to actually get there, he said the chain has to be both scalable and resilient — and right now, it’s too complex to handle that. The Fusaka hard fork is supposed to increase L2 data space by 10x. Ethereum’s 2026 roadmap promises to boost L1 data capacity to match. The network already switched to proof of stake, improved client diversity, and is working on ZK verifiability and quantum resistance. But Vitalik said none of that matters if the core protocol stays bloated. “We need to shine a light on the importance of simplicity,” he wrote. He pointed to Bitcoin’s design — blocks, hashes, proof of work, and nothing more — as the model Ethereum should follow. Vitalik said Ethereum can get there by rewriting its consensus layer. He wants to replace the current beacon chain with something called 3-slot finality, which would remove slots, epochs, committee shuffling, and other moving parts. “You could build this in 200 lines of code,” he wrote . He said it offers strong security and removes a lot of bloat from the system. The smaller validator sets also make the fork choice rule simpler. He said Ethereum should use STARK-based aggregation so anyone can be an aggregator without needing special trust or overpaying for bitfields. The cryptography is complicated, but it’s boxed in and doesn’t screw with the whole system. That opens the door to a simpler peer-to-peer layer. Validator functions — like entry, exit, withdrawal, key changes, and inactivity leaks — should be rebuilt to reduce the line count and make system guarantees easier to read. Vitalik said the best part about consensus is it’s not tightly connected to the execution layer, so it can evolve without breaking contracts. But the real mess, he said, is the Ethereum Virtual Machine. Vitalik said the EVM is stuffed with outdated crap. He called it an over-engineered 256-bit machine optimized for crypto tricks that nobody uses anymore. He admitted most of the complexity came from his own choices. The fight to remove the SELFDESTRUCT opcode was a waste of time. So was the whole EOF debate. His solution: skip the small upgrades and just replace the EVM. He proposed switching to RISC-V or another VM like Cairo — the same ones being used by Ethereum’s zero-knowledge proof systems. “Succinct data shows this could boost efficiency by 100x,” he said. Simpler specs would mean faster execution and fewer bugs. Developers would get more options. Solidity and Vyper would compile to new VMs, and devs using normal programming languages could write Ethereum contracts for the first time. Most precompiles could be scrapped, except maybe for elliptic curve ops. Vitalik admitted that RISC-V won’t be ready tomorrow. While waiting, he wants to pass quick upgrades to the current EVM, such as raising contract size limits and adding new DUP/SWAP opcodes. But the real goal is to replace the entire thing. His plan comes in four steps. First, every new precompile must come with an onchain RISC-V version. Second, developers should be allowed to write contracts in both RISC-V and EVM. Third, Ethereum would do a hard fork to remove precompiles and replace them with RISC-V contracts. Fourth, the EVM would get re-implemented inside RISC-V and run onchain as a contract interpreter. Vitalik said Ethereum also wastes time using different tools for the same job in different places. He pointed to erasure codes, which are needed for data availability, P2P broadcasts, and history storage. All three should use the same code. The same goes for serialization formats — Ethereum should move fully to SSZ, which is already in use in the consensus layer and works inside smart contracts. He said Ethereum’s Merkle tree also sucks. The current hexary structure makes block proving hard. Switching to a binary tree with a better hash would make proving faster and cheaper. That same binary tree should be used for both execution and consensus. Cryptopolitan Academy: Want to grow your money in 2025? Learn how to do it with DeFi in our upcoming webclass. Save Your Spot

Some things that I assumed are understood without saying but for those who are new to all this: Most of these cards have a “minimum spend” to get the bonus. The assumption here is that you can meet this spend without changing your spending habits. If you can’t, don’t get them. You also need to have a solid credit score to get approved- if you don’t, use this as motivation to get a better one. For me this type of stuff is “just for fun” but for others a 10-12k “bonus” just for having a good credit score is a once in a lifetime vacation for 2 or a family of 4. And again goes without saying, but you shouldn’t be accumulating debt on your credit card. The right way to do this is to not change your spending habits but rather change your method of payment. Instead of using a debit card, cash or even crypto to pay expenses, use a credit card (responsibly), pay it off completely every month so you pay zero interest, rack up points, and enjoy trips/vacations you probs never thought were possible. This only works if you spend within your means and completely avoid interest charges- those will wipe away any benefit you’re getting from points in an instant. Again, all the above I assumed goes without saying, but for those who really are new to all this keep the above in mind.

Ethereum (ETH) developers are taking on a major simplification effort for the core protocol, targeting improved resilience and scalability. This push addresses concerns that the current network’s complexity creates long-term risks like high development overhead and a large attack surface, aiming for a leaner design closer to Bitcoin’s philosophy. At the core of this shift is the recognition that simplicity isn’t just about fewer lines of code; it’s about making the protocol more understandable, robust, and decentralized. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, is now pushing for a radical redesign that restructures both the consensus and execution layers, enabling a leaner and more sustainable future. A key proposal, the “beam chain”, aims to streamline the consensus mechanism significantly. The plan replaces the current epoch-slot system with a “3-slot finality” model. This not only improves clarity but also reduces code complexity. This new model uses fewer active validators and incorporates STARK-based aggregation for better network safety and efficiency. These changes allow Ethereum to adopt a leaner peer-to-peer architecture, cutting dependence on specialized nodes. Related: $380M ETH Exchange Outflows Suggest Supply Squeeze as Bulls Rebuild In addition, simplified validator processes for exits and key changes lower participation barriers, supporting Ethereum’s goal of minimal trust and maximum access. Ethereum’s execution model is also targeted for a major update in these proposals. Proponents of the change, including Buterin, view the current Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with its 256-bit architecture as inefficient for future network demands. Buterin proposes replacing the EVM with a RISC-V based architecture or a zero-knowledge-friendly virtual machine (ZK-VM). This proposed change offers efficiency gains calculated at over 100x in specific operations and drastically cuts interpreter overhead. Related: Ethereum’s Road to Recovery: Will New Market Trends Spark a Bullish Turn? Crucially, existing smart contracts remain compatible because they will run through an on-chain RISC-V-based EVM interpreter. This mechanism maintains backward compatibility while also reducing consensus-critical code and opening Ethereum development to mainstream programming languages. Beyond the VM, the simplification effort includes unifying Ethereum’s underlying data standards. For example, standardizing data serialization using SSZ (Simple Serialize) and adopting a single Merkle tree format across the protocol will cut redundant code and increase efficiency. Similarly, using one universal erasure code standard for data availability, network broadcasting, and history storage will improve system reliability and lower development costs. Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.

Google has included zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology into its digital ID system, marking a major shift in how user data is protected during identity verification. This addition to Google Wallet will allow users to confirm their age and identity without sharing sensitive personal information. The active feature will address rising concerns about data exposure in digital identification processes. The ZKP-enhanced digital ID system launches first in the United Kingdom. UK users now link digital IDs derived from their passports for identity verification across participating platforms. Rail Delivery Group is one of the first partners to accept these credentials to verify age requirements when purchasing railcards. Google is also in discussions to expand the use of these IDs to other regulated areas, including alcohol purchases. Related: Google Play Store Boots Unregistered Exchanges in South Korea The technology enables age verification without revealing full identity details. This is performed through custom-built ZK systems developed using technology from Ligero, a startup focused on privacy platforms. Ligero is backed by blockchain-related investors such as Galaxy Ventures, Franklin Templeton, 1kx, Robot Ventures, and Digital Currency Group. More states are adopting digital ID integration with Google Wallet in the United States. Arkansas, Montana, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia will allow residents to store official documents within the app. Meanwhile, Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, and New Mexico will enable their use in Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) operations. As the mandatory REAL ID usage deadline nears, Google has confirmed plans to support digital passport-based credentials for domestic flights. These credentials will be accepted at select authorized airports, allowing travelers to use their mobile devices for identity checks. Related: What Is a Zero-Knowledge Proof and How Does It Work? A Beginners Guide While it remains unclear how Google’s ZK system will interact with cryptocurrency applications, the company stated that its implementation will be open-sourced for other wallets and online services. Google has also partnered with platforms like Bumble to help with age verification using the ZK system, enabling users to confirm eligibility without revealing full birthdate information. Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.

“I’m gonna short this to zero” Sir. You are taking a bet not moving the market 😂