1. Solo Staker: Key to Ethereum Security
2. Proposals to Increase Network Security
3. Decentralization and the Future of Ethereum

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently shared his revolutionary vision for the future of the network at Ethereum Singapore 2024.

Solo Staker: Key to Ethereum Security

Vitalik Buterin emphasized the importance of solo stakers as a crucial element for the long-term security of Ethereum. Unlike centralized staking pools, solo stakers provide diversity and independence, making the network more resilient to coordinated attacks. One of the biggest threats to blockchain networks like Ethereum is a 51 percent attack, where an attacker attempts to control the majority of computational power. In such a situation, solo stakers provide an additional layer of protection since they are not reliant on centralized entities.

Proposals to Increase Network Security

In his speech, Buterin also proposed raising the threshold for block finality—the minimum percentage of validators needed to approve a block for it to be considered final. Currently, the threshold used by Ethereum is two-thirds (66 percent), but Buterin suggested increasing this to three-quarters or even higher. By raising this threshold, the effort to attack the network will become much more difficult, as an attacker would need to control a much larger percentage of validators. Additionally, Buterin recommended the use of Verkle trees to improve block verification efficiency and reduce the need for large storage space. This technology is expected to make node operations in the Ethereum network lighter and more affordable, enabling more people to participate as independent validators.

Decentralization and the Future of Ethereum

Decentralization has broader implications for the future of Ethereum. By ensuring that the network remains decentralized, Ethereum can uphold the core principles of blockchain technology: freedom, transparency, and security. Decentralization is also crucial for ensuring that no single entity has too much control over the network, preventing potential abuses of power. 'It is important to keep Ethereum true to its original vision as a decentralized network,' Buterin emphasized. While decentralized financial applications (DeFi) have grown rapidly on the platform, Buterin believes that the long-term goal of Ethereum should remain focused on providing open access for everyone to participate in the network without relying on third parties.

Challenges Ahead

While Buterin's vision for the future of Ethereum sounds promising, there are several challenges to face. One of them is the issue of Miner Extractable Value (MEV), where miners or validators can manipulate the order of transactions to gain more profit. MEV can create unfairness in the network and erode user trust. Therefore, one of Ethereum's focuses moving forward is to reduce the impact of MEV and ensure that all transactions are processed fairly. Buterin also acknowledged the need to improve staking mechanisms to make them more inclusive. Currently, participating in staking requires a significant amount of Ether (ETH), which can be a barrier for regular users. In the long run, Ethereum needs to address this issue to ensure that more people can participate in staking and help secure the network.

Vitalik Buterin presented a well-reasoned and thought-out plan to improve the security and maintain the decentralization of Ethereum. His proposals should contribute to further strengthening the network and attracting more participants.