Ethereum is actively evolving, and not just in terms of price. Co-founder Vitalik Buterin discussed how the platform can grow while retaining its unique qualities.
The Two Pillars: Scalability and Decentralisation
In a recent podcast, Vitalik Buterin highlighted two core goals that Ethereum must balance for its development:
**First, massive real-world usage.** He emphasized the need for scaling and improving user experience so that millions can effectively use the platform. This means the network needs to become faster, more affordable, and easier to use.
**Second, sovereign decentralization.** Buterin believes Ethereum must remain fundamentally different from centralized systems by being neutral, resistant to censorship, and easy for anyone to verify.
Interesting Upgrades to Ethereum’s Tech Stack
Thanks to Layer 2 networks, Ethereum can already process hundreds of transactions per second. However, this is just the beginning. The upcoming "Pectra" upgrade is expected to significantly increase transaction throughput, potentially reaching thousands of transactions per second.
By 2026, Buterin believes the Ethereum network could handle 10 times more transactions than it does today, which would greatly enhance its potential for global adoption.
DeFi is Getting Safer and Stronger
Vitalik admitted that in the past, recommending DeFi to average users was not responsible, as the risk of losing 100% of your money from bugs or hacks was too high. However, he also points out that the ecosystem has matured. Data shows that such incidents are becoming less common, especially among mature protocols. DeFi hacks now make up less than 0.53% of the total value locked, which is a positive sign.
At the same time, user safety is improving with tools like social recovery wallets, multisig setups, and account abstraction, making it easier for regular users to manage their assets more securely.
With strong fundamentals, Ethereum continues to find support and seems to outperform Bitcoin, indicating positive trends in the platform's development and in the DeFi ecosystem.
