TL;DR
- Parallel block verification will let Ethereum process more transactions per second.
- Permanent data storage costs more to prevent blockchain bloat.
- Zero-knowledge proofs and blobs will handle mainnet data long term.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin published a detailed proposal to increase the network’s transaction capacity without sacrificing decentralization. The plan combines short-term software upgrades with a long-term shift in how the blockchain charges for data storage. Buterin argues that the current bottleneck is not just block space, but the speed at which nodes verify information.
Validators today process blocks sequentially, limiting how many transactions can fit without causing delays. Upcoming updates, internally referred to as Glamsterdam and ePBS, will allow nodes to examine different parts of a block simultaneously.
That parallel verification frees up time within each 12-second slot. By using that window more efficiently, the network can handle more activity without increasing block size or demanding more powerful hardware from participants.
Permanent Data Costs Become the New Frontier for Ethereum Scaling
The second major pillar of the plan targets a flaw in the fee structure. Buterin points out that the current model treats two very different actions under the same pricing logic. A simple transfer consumes computing power temporarily and then releases those resources. Deploying a smart contract or minting a token, however, adds data that every node must store forever. That permanent accumulation makes the blockchain heavier over time and raises the barrier for new validators.
Operations that create long-term storage would carry a higher fee, while everyday transaction processing could become cheaper or remain stable. That shift would allow Ethereum to absorb more daily activity without letting the total size of the chain grow at an unsustainable pace. Buterin wants to avoid a future where only well-funded entities with dedicated data centers can afford to run a node.
Long term, the network plans to lean more heavily on zero-knowledge proofs and blobs. These data structures originally appeared to reduce costs for layer-2 networks. They could eventually carry mainnet transaction data as well. If validators can confirm blocks without re-executing every operation, the computational load drops sharply. That transition would boost capacity while keeping the network open to smaller operators.
Buterin’s roadmap does not rely on a single fix. It combines software optimizations already in development with an economic redesign that rewards efficient use of blockchain space. Ethereum wants to scale, but not at the cost of who gets to participate.