Ethereum Faces Walkaway Test As Buterin Calls For 100 Year Protocol Safety

TLDR

Table of Contents

Buterin says Ethereum must keep its value even if core developers stop active work.
Quantum resistance is needed to protect Ethereum from future cryptographic threats.
ZK-EVMs and PeerDAS aim to scale Ethereum without reducing decentralization.
Block building must resist censorship and centralization to secure Ethereum’s future.

Ethereum must reach a stage where its value holds even without active developers, according to co-founder Vitalik Buterin. In a recent statement, he said the network must remain secure, usable, and decentralized for decades. Buterin framed this idea as a “walkaway test,” meaning Ethereum should function as intended even if core contributors step back. He linked this goal to long-term cryptographic safety, scalability, and resistance to centralization pressures.

Ethereum’s Walkaway Test and Long-Term Viability

Vitalik Buterin said Ethereum must be able to stand on its own for the next 100 years. He explained that the protocol’s value should not depend on future upgrades or ongoing developer involvement. Instead, its core features must already be strong enough to last.

“We must get to a place where Ethereum’s value proposition does not strictly depend on any features that are not in the protocol already,” Buterin wrote in a post on X. He compared Ethereum to a hammer, noting that it should remain useful even if no one continues building it.

Buterin added that Ethereum should aim for a state where builders can stop making changes if they choose. This approach, often described as protocol ossification, would signal maturity and long-term stability. He said the network must reach a point where users can trust its safety far into the future.

Focus on Quantum Resistance and Cryptographic Safety

One of the key areas Buterin identified is full quantum resistance. He warned that future advances in computing could weaken current cryptographic systems. Ethereum, he said, must prepare for these risks before they become real threats.

“Being able to say ‘Ethereum’s protocol, as it stands today, is cryptographically safe for a hundred years’ is something we should strive to get to as soon as possible,” he said. He pointed to ongoing research but noted that no complete solution has been deployed yet.

The Ethereum roadmap includes work under a phase known as “The Splurge.” This section focuses on cryptography and long-term security improvements. These efforts aim to protect user funds and network integrity against future attacks.

Scaling Ethereum Without Losing Decentralization

Buterin also stressed the need for a scalable architecture that keeps decentralization intact. He mentioned Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines and Peer Data Availability Sampling as key tools. These systems could allow Ethereum to process thousands of transactions per second.

ZK-EVMs aim to verify transactions efficiently while reducing network load. PeerDAS focuses on data availability, allowing nodes to confirm data without storing everything. Together, these systems support higher throughput without relying on centralized infrastructure.

Last week, Buterin said these technologies could improve decentralization and consensus. He said they also offer higher bandwidth, which helps Ethereum address the long-standing blockchain trilemma.

Reducing Centralization and Protocol Risk

Another concern raised by Buterin is centralization in block building. He said Ethereum needs a block-building model that resists censorship and control by a few actors. This includes addressing how transactions are ordered and included in blocks.

He also called for a general-purpose account model for signature validation. In addition, he highlighted the need for a gas schedule without security flaws. These elements, he said, are necessary for long-term protocol safety.

Buterin listed seven areas that need improvement and said progress should be steady. “Every year, we should tick off at least one of these boxes, and ideally multiple,” he said. His goal is to ensure Ethereum remains robust both technically and socially over time.