Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shared his vision for the future of the blockchain, highlighting key improvements aimed at speeding up the network, enhancing security, and increasing accessibility for more users.
Faster Transactions and Accessibility
Currently, confirming transactions can take up to 15 minutes, causing network congestion. To address this, Buterin proposed exploring single-slot finality, potentially finalizing blocks in 12 seconds. He also suggested lowering the minimum staking threshold from 32 ETH to 1 ETH, making it easier for smaller players to access the system and ensuring equitable distribution of control. Proposals include using advanced cryptographic techniques such as zk-SNARKs and introducing Orbit Committees for the random selection of validators.
Security Enhancements
Maintaining network security is another critical area highlighted by Vitalik Buterin. The current issue is that participants know who will propose the next block, allowing malicious actors to target them. A transparent leader election process for block creation would mitigate this risk, as the leader's name is kept secret until the block is produced.
Vitalik Buterin's proposed changes to Ethereum signal significant plans for improving performance and participation in network activities. These proposals aim to create a more resilient and inclusive Ethereum ecosystem.