Vitalik Buterin Addresses Ethereum Scalability Challenges

Vitalik Buterin aims to scale Ethereum to over 100,000 transactions per second (TPS). This target is part of a long-term strategy focusing on improving both Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks.

Ethereum (ETH) co-creator Vitalik Buterin has set his sights on scaling Ethereum to handle over 100,000 transactions per second (TPS). This ambitious goal is part of a broader strategy to enhance both Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks.

In a recent blog post, Buterin outlined these objectives, highlighting the importance of achieving high scalability while preserving decentralization and security.Vitalik Buterin’s Ethereum Scalability Roadmap

According to Buterin's roadmap, a rollup-centric approach emerged from sharding with the Layer 2 protocols. Despite facing challenges, he anticipates that rollups will remain Ethereum’s preferred scaling method.

Another key challenge lies in achieving high speed while maintaining Ethereum’s core principle of decentralization. Optimizing data availability sampling solved the problem of high scalability.

This technique ensures data availability without each node needing to store all the information. Buterin also noted that Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade brought improvements, but the network still faces speed limitations.

Ethereum Considers Raising Gas Limit with Caution

Ethereum’s throughput could see a significant boost with Buterin's medium-term data availability target of 16 MB per slot. This would increase the network’s TPS to several tens of thousands—much higher than the network can currently handle.

However, some applications, like decentralized social platforms or payment systems, might still find this lacking. Buterin proposed Plasma, an off-chain solution where datasets are posted to on-chain via Merkle roots, to cater to these high-bandwidth business use cases.

Plasma could help scale Ethereum for ‘high-volume, low-value’ apps—i.e., fast processing and low fees. Another suggestion he made was to increase the gas limit, but he believed this would fundamentally hinder Layer 1 decentralization.

Buterin suggested that Ethereum could become more efficient by charging fees based on the type of calculations required. He also considered using a more efficient bytecode format (EOF). Both strategies aim to make Ethereum faster without compromising its core values.

Ethereum Scaling Must Preserve Core Values

Buterin warned of economic consequences arising from the disparity between Layer 1 and 2 scalability. If Layer 2 is too efficient compared to Layer 1, it could destabilize Ethereum’s ecosystem.

If Layer 1 is too slow or centralized, the value of ether as an asset might be threatened. Buterin stated that a working gas limit strategy is crucial to addressing these concerns. However, he noted that he hasn't seen a clear plan for increasing the gas limit without harming decentralization.

Instead, he aims for specific improvements in Ethereum that will make certain areas of it cheaper. Scaling poses a significant challenge, but Buterin is confident that Ethereum will scale without sacrificing the properties that have made it successful.

He envisions Ethereum's continued refinement—rollups combined with other solutions, like Plasma—aiding in absorbing the next wave of decentralized applications. Ultimately, Buterin hopes to see Ethereum become a more scaled, secure, decentralized platform.

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