Justin Drake Reveals 10-Year 'Lean Ethereum' Roadmap for 10K TPS on Mainnet

On July 31st, Ethereum researcher Justin Drake presented the "Lean Ethereum" proposal, which reframes the network's foundational layer based on the need for survivability against threats from nations and quantum technology. This proposal offers significant performance improvements without sacrificing decentralization and was published on the Ethereum Foundation blog.

With the terms "fortress mode" and "beast mode," Drake introduces two new guidelines that together outline a vision of an Ethereum network capable of both strengthening security and achieving radical scaling. This can be achieved by anchoring the mainnet in hash-based cryptography and reorganizing the three protocol layers (consensus, data, and execution).

At an event in Berlin, which was entirely dedicated to ETH, to have Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, and Drake further explained this concept.

Fort mode and beast mode

Drake emphasizes that Ethereum must be able to function for decades, even centuries, even under hostile conditions. The goal is clear: "If the internet runs, Ethereum runs." In terms of performance, Lean Ethereum targets approximately 10.000 transactions per second (TPS) on the mainnet through aggressive vertical scaling, while layer-2 (L2) blockchains aim to achieve up to 1 million TPS through extensive horizontal scaling.

He points out that the possibility of achieving "moon math" (advanced mathematical techniques) is no longer a utopia. This refers to the use of real-time zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVMs) for execution and data availability samples (DAS) for data throughput. A secondary goal is to enable full-chain authentication on consumer devices, such as browsers, phones, and wallets.

Three “lean” sublayers

Lean Ethereum proposes coordinated upgrades across three different layers. The first layer is "Lean Consensus," or Beacon Chain 2.0, which focuses on strengthening the Beacon Chain with the goal of maximum security and decentralization, achieving near-instantaneous finality within seconds.

The second layer, Lean Data (Blobs 2.0), aims to create post-quantum “blobs” of variable sizes to ensure a developer experience similar to that of call data, while increasing throughput.

Finally, Lean Execution (EVM 2.0) has developed a minimalist, SNARK-friendly instruction set that retains EVM compatibility and networking advantages while accelerating the proof and verification process. These changes are intended to provide "performance abundance" under the non-negotiable conditions of continuity and simplicity.

Hash-based crypto as the standard

Lean Ethereum considers the hash function the fundamental building block of all layers. This means that consensus aggregation signatures replace the Boneh-Lynn-Shacham (BLS) method, while hash-based commitments replace the Kate, Zaverucha, and Goldberg (KZG) structure in the data layer. Furthermore, hash-centric zkVMs streamline the execution and verification process.

This approach is designed to simultaneously future-proof against quantum threats and address the rapid rise of SNARKs across every segment of the stack. Drake argues that Lean Ethereum combines an engineering aesthetic and a roadmap focused on minimalist modules, encapsulated complexity, formal verification, and proven security and optimality.

The emphasis on “lean craft” aims to reduce inherited complexity and develop standards with building blocks that are easier to understand and verify.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does the “Lean Ethereum” proposal entail?
The "Lean Ethereum" proposal focuses on strengthening the security and scalability of the Ethereum network by using hash-based cryptography and restructuring the protocol layers. This allows Ethereum to perform better under various conditions, with an ambitious target of thousands of transactions per second.

What impact does this proposal have on the future of Ethereum?
The proposal could position Ethereum as a resilient platform that can not only withstand competitive pressure but also be prepared for technological threats like quantum computing. This could boost adoption by investors and developers, which is essential for the token's future value.

How is “fort mode” different from “beast mode”?
"Fort mode" refers to the network's robustness and security, while "beast mode" focuses on performance optimization and scalability. The idea is to combine both modes so that Ethereum functions not only securely but also extremely efficiently.