Vitalik Buterin, one of the co-founders of Ethereum, has recently shared an extensive roadmap outlining the network’s plans and upgrades for the year 2024.
Vitalik Buterin Outlines Ethereum 2024 Roadmap
In a series of tweets, Buterin mentioned that the 2024 roadmap builds upon the 2023 plan with a focus on key elements like the Merge, the Surge, the Scourge, the Verge, the Purge, and the Splurge. Following the successful completion of the Merge in September 2022, Ethereum is now prioritizing the implementation of a Single Slot Finality (SSF). This move aims to address existing weaknesses in the network, following its transition from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism during the Merge.
The SSF concept is expected to enhance Ethereum’s consensus mechanism, enabling more efficient validation of blocks. The proposed solution involves proposing and finalizing blocks in the same slot, resulting in a significant 15-minute reduction in time-to-finality. Buterin believes this approach provides a straightforward solution to Ethereum’s PoS-related challenges.
Next on the agenda is the Surge, aiming for an impressive goal of 100,000 transactions per second on rollups. Buterin emphasized the importance of long-term improvements in cross-rollup standards and interoperability, with 2024 focusing on substantial progress in rollup scaling, including developments from EIP-4844 and rollups themselves.
Addressing centralization concerns, the Scourge aspect of the roadmap aims to mitigate issues within Ethereum’s PoS design, particularly focusing on Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) and liquid staking or pooling. Buterin had previously suggested reducing node operational costs as a potential solution to these challenges.
Simplifying Block Verification Processes
Moreover, the roadmap introduces the Verge, a potential game-changer in simplifying block verification. With Verkle trees nearing readiness for integration, the future of block verification could entail downloading a minimal amount of data, executing basic computations, and validating a Succinct, Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge (SNARK).
The network plans to delve into Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) verification precompile, aiming for a fully SNARKed Ethereum.
Furthermore, the Purge is set to streamline the protocol, eradicate technical debts, and curtail network participation costs. Meanwhile, the Splurge is anticipated to address remaining challenges comprehensively.
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