Vitalik Buterin Announces the Biggest Update to Take Place Over 4 Years: Lean Ethereum
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced that the network has entered a new restructuring process called “Lean Ethereum,” which will take place over the next three to four years and have as significant an impact as “The Merge.”
Vitalik Buterin, one of the most prominent figures in the cryptocurrency world, shared exciting details about the future of the Ethereum network. Buterin describes this process, which will almost completely change the network’s operating logic, as the third major phase of the protocol. Instead of happening all at once, this comprehensive series of updates will encompass a series of improvements spread over several years.
The most striking part of the plan stands out as a radical change in the way data is stored. While all data is currently kept in a single and costly format, the new model will add a cheap storage layer for simpler applications. Buterin states that this new system could reduce transaction fees by more than 10 times for some tokens. By 2030, this new layer is aimed to host 50 times more data than the old one.
Revolution in Ethereum Transaction Fees on the Horizon
Buterin also emphasized that quantum security and privacy have been moved to the top of the priority list. To counter the risk of future quantum computers breaking current encryption methods, all network components are planned to adopt a defensive structure. Efforts have already begun to make the temporary data storage areas used by Layer 2 networks quantum-secure, in particular.
Privacy is no longer just a side feature but is becoming one of the network’s core objectives. Buterin stated that new features are being designed with a privacy-centric focus from the ground up. In this process, the Hegota update, expected to take place in 2026, will be the last major step of the old system, followed by a transition to a completely next-generation Ethereum structure.
Next-Generation Engine and Future Vision
In the long term, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is expected to be replaced by more efficient next-generation systems like RISC-V. This change aims to increase the network’s capacity without disrupting the operation of existing applications. Despite the Ethereum Foundation’s recent layoffs, Buterin stated that the network’s development focused on censorship resistance and security will continue. According to current data, the Ethereum (ETH) price continues to trade around the $1,780 level.