TLDR
- The “Strawmap” development blueprint outlines Ethereum’s path to reducing block times from 12 seconds down to just 2 seconds within four years
- Finality speed will improve dramatically, dropping from approximately 16 minutes to just 6–16 seconds
- Quantum-resistant security through hash-based cryptographic methods is a core priority
- Development includes seven scheduled protocol upgrades, distributed approximately every six months
- Performance targets include achieving 10,000 TPS on the base layer and 10 million TPS on Layer 2 using zero-knowledge technology
Vitalik Buterin, who co-founded Ethereum, has unveiled comprehensive details regarding a four-year strategic development initiative for the network. This initiative centers on the “Strawmap,” a framework document released by the Ethereum Foundation’s Protocol team.
Originally conceived as an internal planning document in January 2026, the Strawmap has since been made publicly available. It represents an evolving blueprint that sketches one potential trajectory for Ethereum’s foundational layer over the coming decade.
According to Buterin, the development strategy pursues two parallel yet independent objectives. The first concentrates on accelerating block production speed, while the second aims to achieve faster transaction finality.
At present, Ethereum generates a new block every 12 seconds. The Strawmap envisions progressively reducing this interval to 2 seconds through staged improvements following an approximate square-root-of-two progression: 12, 8, 6, 4, and ultimately 2 seconds.
Buterin explained that enhanced peer-to-peer communication protocols between Ethereum nodes will enable these reduced block times while maintaining full security guarantees.
Regarding transaction finality, which currently requires approximately 16 minutes, the objective is to compress this timeframe to somewhere between 6 and 16 seconds.
Quantum Resistance Built Into the Plan
Achieving faster finality requires replacing Ethereum’s existing confirmation mechanism with a streamlined alternative. This new system will incorporate post-quantum, hash-based cryptographic protocols.
Buterin characterized these modifications as a “very invasive set of changes.” The strategy involves pairing the most significant upgrades in each development track with the transition to quantum-resistant signature schemes.
An interesting consequence of this phased implementation is that block production could achieve quantum resistance ahead of the finality layer. Buterin noted that in a scenario where quantum computers suddenly emerged, the network would forfeit its finality assurance but would continue processing transactions.
Throughput and Privacy Goals
The Strawmap establishes ambitious benchmarks for both throughput capacity and privacy features. The base layer target is 10,000 transactions per second, leveraging zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines coupled with real-time proof generation.
Layer 2 scaling solutions built atop Ethereum are targeting 10 million transactions per second through data availability sampling techniques.
Additionally, the roadmap incorporates an objective for native shielded ETH transfers, which would integrate privacy as a fundamental network feature.
Seven protocol upgrades are scheduled across the next four years, with approximately six-month intervals between each. Two upgrades — Glamsterdam and Hegotá — have already been confirmed for deployment later in 2026.
The Strawmap is explicitly defined as a living document. The Ethereum Foundation has committed to refreshing the roadmap on at least a quarterly basis as research progresses and community input is incorporated.
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