15 Feb 2025

light mode

Buterin’s new roadmap: Review of changes

Buterin’s new roadmap: Review of changes

Vitalik Buterin shared the updated Ethereum roadmap with his Twitter followers. Members of the community became the first to learn about the upcoming changes in the ETH blockchain architecture

On this page

What is the reason for the changes? What will fundamentally change for users and validators? When should we expect the updates and what will they lead to?

Buterin's series of short tweets does not fully answer these questions. At least not to someone who does not follow daily all the twists and turns of the most complex blockchain ever created. So let's try to go through the updates, relying on the project's roadmap and common sense.

New Ethereum Roadmap

New Ethereum Roadmap

Мerge

The goal of this phase is to achieve as reliable decentralized PoS consensus as possible. This is supposed to be achieved not through Merkle Tree (an algorithm with a single root hash that verifies each transaction and assigns a common hash to small data fragments), but through a decentralized SNARK. This is zero-knowledge proof, which is used by some anonymous cryptocurrencies.

Consequently, Buterin wants to strengthen the privacy of transactions without losing users' right to track and verify them.

We should also note that attempts to integrate SNARK into Ethereum were made back in 2016. But only now this task is enshrined as a priority for the blockchain architecture.

Surge

The next challenge for Ethereum after the transition to PoS is the Surge, which aims to improve scalability by segmenting the blockchain into parallel portions. This is one of the sharding solutions, which, according to the developers, will allow to use cheap L2 blockchains, reduce the gas fees and facilitate node management for users.

According to Buterin, Ethereum will process up to 100,000 transactions per second in July 2023, after the Surge phase is completed. According to ETHTPS.info, the network now handles about 20 TPS. 

Scourge

The developers have added a new task to the roadmap called The Scourge. They believe that this step will ensure unbiased generation of transaction blocks.

This step was triggered by a flurry of criticism over the centralization of Ethereum following its shift to PoS. Users have noted that MEV relays, which comply with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), generate more than 50% of Ethereum's blocks. MEV (the maximally extractable value) enables users to change the order of transactions in a block or even exclude them by manipulating the gas fee. 

This is direct validators' censorship. And users are fairly outraged that MEV automatically selects the most profitable transactions for the block, ignoring the others.

The Scourge stage involves the introduction of a “block auction” and the connection of MEV-Boost relay capabilities without censorship. According to Buterin, this will solve the issue with the neutral position of validators. But it is not yet clear how this auction will be implemented and how MEV will be replaced by MEV-Boost.

It took more than six years for Buterin to choose between decentralization and security in favor of the former. And while the upcoming developments complicate the Ethereum blockchain system, they give hope that the problem of unbiased validators, decentralization, and scalability will be solved.

Read more about blockchain scaling here

The content on The Coinomist is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content. Neither we accept liability for any errors or omissions in the information provided or for any financial losses incurred as a result of relying on this information. Actions based on this content are at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult a professional. See our Terms, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers for more details.

Articles by this author
AI Is Making Crypto Scams Smarter—Insights from Chainalysis 2024

AI Is Making Crypto Scams Smarter—Insights from Chainalysis 2024

The 2024 Chainalysis report confirms that AI-driven fraud is on the rise, with crypto scammers cashing in at least $9.9 billion through advanced deception tactics.

The Coinomist
North Korean Hackers Infiltrate GitHub & NPM to Steal Crypto

North Korean Hackers Infiltrate GitHub & NPM to Steal Crypto

Lazarus Group, a North Korean hacking unit responsible for numerous cyber attacks, has launched a new campaign targeting software developers and crypto wallets.

Anahit Avetisyan
Solana Outpaces Rivals as App Revenues Surge in Crypto Revival

Solana Outpaces Rivals as App Revenues Surge in Crypto Revival

Messari reports that Solana-based apps saw an unbelievable 213% revenue spike, making Solana the top blockchain for app-generated earnings.

Anton Kryshtal
HashFlare Founders Admit to $575M Crypto Fraud Scheme

HashFlare Founders Admit to $575M Crypto Fraud Scheme

A long-anticipated court hearing in the U.S. has concluded with HashFlare co-founders Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turogin admitting to charges of wire fraud.

The Coinomist
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 10, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 10, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 3, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 3, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Jan 27, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Jan 27, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
How to Bump a Transaction in the Bitcoin Network

How to Bump a Transaction in the Bitcoin Network

Sometimes, Bitcoin transactions can get “stuck,” especially if a low fee was set. In such cases, you might wonder: Why is my Bitcoin transaction stuck?

bitOn
Inside Cryptocurrency Farms: How Digital Coins Are Mined

Inside Cryptocurrency Farms: How Digital Coins Are Mined

Cryptocurrency farms and mining have evolved significantly since Bitcoin launched in 2009. To understand their growth, it helps to look at the broader history of resource extraction.

The Coinomist
From Bulls to Ballers — Why Celebrities Are Flocking to Crypto

From Bulls to Ballers — Why Celebrities Are Flocking to Crypto

Trump’s meme coin isn’t an outlier—it’s part of a broader trend. Back in 2021, celebrities were minting NFTs, and by 2024, they had moved on to personal token launches. The connection between fame and crypto has been growing for years, even if many failed to see it.

Vlad Vovk
Which Macroeconomic Factors Make Crypto Rise or Fall? 

Which Macroeconomic Factors Make Crypto Rise or Fall? 

It happens when you check the market and crypto prices are up or down for no obvious reason. Then you do some research and find out that there are actually reasons outside the crypto space.

Anahit Avetisyan
How Blockchain Helps Combat Disinformation

How Blockchain Helps Combat Disinformation

Fake news has become a global issue, shaping public opinion, fueling social tensions, and even influencing political decisions. With the rise of social media, the spread of misinformation has accelerated, making it increasingly difficult to regulate. However, blockchain technology offers a promising solution in the fight against fake news.

Daryna Nesterenko
Trading Psychology: How to Avoid Falling Victim to Your Own Biases

Trading Psychology: How to Avoid Falling Victim to Your Own Biases

The most successful traders aren’t always the smartest. More often, those who excel are the ones who understand psychological traps, manage their emotions, and maintain rationality under pressure.

Vlad Vovk
SBF’s Prosecutor Quits – What It Means for Crypto Crime

SBF’s Prosecutor Quits – What It Means for Crypto Crime

Danielle Sassoon, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has resigned, making headlines this week. And you’ve definitely heard of one of her biggest “client” names.

Anahit Avetisyan
Trump’s Crypto Summits: Pragmatic Move or Regulatory Mess?

Trump’s Crypto Summits: Pragmatic Move or Regulatory Mess?

What’s the best way to figure out how the crypto industry needs to be regulated in the U.S.? Donald Trump is considering different options.

Anahit Avetisyan
MORE
«Mass Adoption Isn’t About Tech – It’s About Perception». Bitmedia Founder Matvii Diadkov – About RWA, Web3, And Marketing

«Mass Adoption Isn’t About Tech – It’s About Perception». Bitmedia Founder Matvii Diadkov – About RWA, Web3, And Marketing

Matvii Diadkov, founder of Bitmedia, shared with us in an exclusive interview his expert insights on Web3 adoption, impact of GameFi and community-centering tendencies in the market.

The Coinomist
“Satoshi is CIA”: Swedish crypto bro opens up about his Bitcoin journey

“Satoshi is CIA”: Swedish crypto bro opens up about his Bitcoin journey

The first crypto craze took place almost a decade ago. Overnight, many people found out about Bitcoin and its underlying technology, blockchain.

Lesia Dubenko
MORE