Ethereum Upgrade 2025: Vitalik Proposes Simpler, Faster L1

Vitalik Buterin Proposes Streamlined Ethereum Upgrade 2025 Plan

Vitalik Buterin Suggests Significant Ethereum Upgrade 2025 

The co-founder has presented a wide ranging proposal to facilitate the Ethereum protocol, deriving inspiration from Bitcoin’s streamlined and adaptable design. In a blog post titled “The 3 Transitions: Simplifying the L1,” published on May 3, 2025, Buterin voiced concerns about increasing complexities of it’s technical architecture. He noted that although the recent updates such as shift to proof-of-stake and adoption of zero-knowledge (ZK) technologies, have enhanced the network’s capabilities. They have also made it more challenging to manage and evolve. Ethereum upgrade 2025 has layered the system with intricate components, complicating coordination, auditing, and driving up the risks of bugs, delays, and implementational costs.

Streamlining the Consensus Layer Using a 3-Slot Finality Approach:

Buterin aims to build it's consensus mechanism uncomplicated and more productive. Instead of the current complex system, that involves epochs, sync committees, and constant validator shuffling, he suggests a ‘3-slot finality’ model, where blocks are finalised every three slots. These would reduce the need for frequent validator rotations, making the network more predictable and easier to manage in Ethereum upgrade 2025.

A major benefit of Ethereum upgrade 2025 is reducing the number of active validators, from hundreds of thousands to just a few thousand. Fewer validators mean less network complexity, lower computational overhead, and stronger security.

Key points:

1. Change: Retire complex validator shuffling with a simple ‘3-Slot Finality’ system.

2. Benefits: Quicker Block finalisation, fewer validators required, and dependability.

3. Extra Upgrade: STARK proofs to improve speed and decentralisation.

Overall, these changes could make it faster, lighter, and more scalable, taking inspiration from Bitcoin’s simplicity while maintaining Ethereum’s advanced capabilities.

                                                                                        Source: X

Redesigning the Execution Layer: Proposing a More Streamlined Virtual Machine

Buterin suggests replacing Ethereums’s current system (the EVM) with a simler, faster alternative, RISC-V, an open-source technology often used in modern computing.

Key Changes and Benefits:

1. Better for Privacy and Scaling

• RISC-V works much better with zero-knowledge proofs (key for privacy and scaling), potentially making proofs hundred times faster.

          This would accelerate transaction processing and lower operational cost .

        2. Smoother Transition

•   The EVM would not disappear overnight, it would run on top of RISC-V at first.

            Developers could keep using existing apps while gradually adapting to the new system.

        3. Simpler and More Efficient

•   RISC-V is easier to optimize and maintain long-term than EVM.

This could make it lighter, faster, and more secure.

Ethereum upgrade 2025 could dramatically improve the performance while keeping it compatible with the existing apps, a win-win situation for both developers and users.

Ethereum Upgrade 2025 for Long-Term Stability and Sustainability

Alongside changes to consensus and execution, Buterin emphasises the importance of simplifying its shared infrastructure. He calls for standardising key elements like data serialisation, tree structures, and error correction methods. Ethereum upgrade 2025  includes using one erasure coding scheme, adopting SSZ (Simple Serialize) for all data, and applying a uniform Merkle tree structure throughout the protocol. He also recommends setting a limit on the amount of code in core consensus logic to keep it simple and easy to audit. Legacy features that aren’t essential would still be supported, but moved outside the main protocol to reduce complexity and improve security. 

A Strategic Ethereum Upgrade 2025, Roadmap to Ensure Future Competitiveness: 

Vitalik Buterin is pushing for simplifications; it faces tougher competition from faster and cheaper blockchains like Solana. While Ethereum is still at the top for smart contracts, it’s been losing users due to:

• High fees

• Network Congestion

• Complexity for developers

Buterin wants to: Strip down Etherum’s core tech, just like Bitcoin’s ‘less is more’ philosophy to Make it easier to maintain and upgrade. Help developers build without struggling with the complexities.Think of it like decluttering a phone just to make it run faster and smoother. So, instead of adding more features, it might succeed by becoming leaner and more efficient. Though these changes will take around 5 years.