On September 27, 2026, Vitalik Buterin published an essay stating that by 2030, Ethereum will become a 'cryptographic world computer,' and the Hegota fork in 2027 will likely be the last 'regular' network upgrade.

ZK-proofs and Selective Verification to Reduce Node Load

According to Buterin, ZK-proofs and selective data verification will play an increasingly important role: nodes will need to repeat all computations themselves less frequently.

L1 Will Retain Only What Requires Global Consensus

Sequential operations will remain expensive, while anything that can be parallelized, aggregated, and cryptographically verified will become cheaper. At Ethereum's base layer, only what truly requires global consensus should remain.

A Decentralized Layer for Speed and Privacy Will Form Around L1

Ethereum itself will not become as fast as conventional servers, but a decentralized layer for fast computation, scaling, and privacy may form around L1.

After Hegota: Recursive STARKs, New Consensus, and Quantum Resistance

Buterin expects further development through recursive STARKs, formal verification, new consensus mechanisms, and quantum resistance. In this architecture, Ethereum will serve as a secure core surrounded by scalable, private, and decentralized computation.