- Ethereum aims to pass the walkaway test for long-term independence.
- If Ethereum needs frequent upgrades, it is not much different from TradFi platforms.
- Key upgrades include quantum resistance, scalability, and flexible account models.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin had drawn the community’s attention to the blockchain ecosystem’s efforts to maintain long-term growth. Via his latest X thread, Buterin is urging his followers to think beyond the next upgrade, the next bull cycle, or even the next decade.
Vitalik Buterin believes that a decentralized network’s true success is its potential to survive even after decades. Amid regulatory challenges and the emergence of new blockchain platforms, he wants his ecosystem to last for generations. His message is clear- “Ethereum itself must pass the walkaway test.”
Why Buterin Says Ethereum Could Stand Alone for Decades?
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin took to X earlier today to share insights on his thoughts on decentralization and the true success of a blockchain platform. Buterin’s decentralization argument is based on a simple idea- a truly decentralized ecosystem should not rely on constant human intervention. It should be able to dominate the financial space for decades.
For Buterin, long-term independence is the real test of decentralization. He believes that if Ethereum needs frequent emergency upgrades like Fusaka, coordinators, and human fixes, it is not much different from the centralized traditional finance (TradFi) platforms.
“Ethereum is meant to be a home for trustless and trust-minimized applications, whether in finance, governance or elsewhere,” noted Buterin. He added,
“It must support applications that are more like tools – the hammer that once you buy it’s yours – than like services that lose all functionality once the vendor loses interest in maintaining them (or worse, gets hacked or becomes value-extractive). Even when applications do have functionality that depends on a vendor, Ethereum can help reduce those dependencies as much as possible, and protect the user as much as possible in those cases where the dependencies fail.”
Buterin explains that he envisions Ethereum as a digital public infrastructure that has the capacity to function independently even after its creators step away. This means that the blockchains should be able to withstand decades without depending on ongoing feature rollouts.
Designing Ethereum to Last for Decades
Vitalik Buterin asserts that an independent foundation is the best key to sustained growth and success. If Ethereum is supposed to undergo constant upgrades or active intervention from the developer team, it could never achieve this independence.
To pass this test, Ethereum must be able to remain unchanged for years without losing its momentum. This means that the blockchain’s core strength should not be relying on new features or upgrades.
As part of Vitalik Buterin’s long-term vision for Ethereum, the platform is poised to undergo certain developments. As highlighted by Buterin, the team is attempting to strengthen quantum-resistant security to ensure cryptographic safety for decades.
Also, the blockchain’s scalability architecture is being designed to handle thousands of transactions per second. The platform implements upgrades through parameter adjustments rather than disruptive forks.
Additionally, Ethereum’s state and storage systems are being optimised for long-term durability. This allows the network to run efficiently for a long time. The account model is also becoming flexible through full account abstraction.
While there are growing centralization pressures, the platform is tackling it through the proof-of-stake model and block building process. Together, these developments aim to make Ethereum a platform that can grow independently.
