05-01-2026
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin says that the long-standing challenge known as the blockchain trilemma has now been practically resolved. The blockchain trilemma refers to the difficulty of combining decentralization, security and scalability in one system. According to Buterin, recent innovations on Ethereum show that these goals can now be met with working technology.
Two breakthroughs shaping the network
Buterin highlights two key developments. The first is Peer Data Availability Sampling, known as PeerDAS. This feature was introduced in a recent network upgrade and is already active on the Ethereum main network. PeerDAS increases the amount of data the network can handle without compromising decentralization.
The other innovation is zero-knowledge Ethereum virtual machines, or ZK-EVMs. These are systems that let the network run smart contracts in a way that improves efficiency using zero-knowledge proofs. While security improvements are ongoing, the technology is now at a level where it can be used in real world applications.
Live technology, not theory
What makes Buterin‘s comments noteworthy is that these ideas are no longer just theoretical. PeerDAS is live today and ZK-EVMs are becoming more practical. Together they help Ethereum increase throughput while still maintaining core principles like decentralization and consensus.
Looking ahead for Ethereum
Looking forward, Buterin outlined a roadmap for further improvements through 2030. In the near term, the network will see growth in gas limits, driven by changes in how resources are allocated. Later this decade, adjustments to data structures and validation methods are expected to make even high throughput practical in daily use.
A long journey to today
Buterin noted that what has been achieved did not happen overnight. It reflects nearly ten years of research and engineering, with discussions about data availability and scalability going back many years. The current state of the network is a reflection of ongoing work rather than a sudden breakthrough.
In summary:
Progress made: Ethereum now combines decentralization, security and scalability with working code.
Key technologies: PeerDAS and ZK-EVMs expand data capacity and execution efficiency.
Future focus: Continued upgrades through 2030 aim to support broader use cases.
Disclaimer: This article is not financial advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.