Vitalik Buterin shares top priorities for new 'Lean Ethereum' strawmap
Vitalik Buterin outlined a new “Lean Ethereum” roadmap that puts quantum resistance, scalability, and privacy at the center of Ethereum’s next phase. He said the planned upgrades will unfold over the next three to four years and could reshape nearly every layer of the network, comparable in scope to the Merge. Quantum safety has become a higher priority, with a quantum-safe solution for blobs now seen as urgent. Privacy is also now a first-class goal. Buterin also wants a new virtual machine, such as leanISA or RISC-V, to improve programmable privacy and scalability. The roadmap comes as the Ethereum Foundation cuts staff and budgets to become leaner. Some observers support the plan but doubt the timeline, arguing Ethereum has a history of delays and that faster delivery may be possible with AI assistance.
