Based on AiCoin, researchers and developers anticipate that in 2026, some Ethereum validators will stop re-executing transactions and instead directly verify zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs. This change is expected to be as significant as Ethereum's 2022 transition from PoW to PoS. Ethereum researcher Justin Drake noted that the first validators will verify ZK proofs for each block, enabling immediate Layer 1 scaling and laying the foundation for up to 10,000 TPS. Currently, Ethereum's mainnet throughput is around 30 TPS. By the end of 2026, approximately 10% of validators are expected to switch to ZK verification mode, significantly reducing hardware requirements while maintaining network decentralization.
Ethereum May See ZK Scaling Breakthrough in 2026
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Summary
Ethereum mainnet may see a ZK scaling breakthrough in 2026, as some validators plan to stop re-executing transactions and instead verify zero-knowledge proofs. Ethereum researcher Justin Drake said this shift could enable immediate Layer 1 scaling and support up to 10,000 TPS. The mainnet currently handles about 30 TPS. By 2026, around 10% of validators are expected to adopt ZK verification, lowering hardware needs while keeping the network decentralized.
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