Vitalik on Ethereum's technical progress?
2026-01-04 • Ian Irizarry
TL;DR
In 2025 Ethereum made serious technical strides — big wins in scaling, simpler architecture, improved node usability, and mainstream asset adoption. For companies looking for funding, Ethereum just got more enterprise-ready — and that’s a major signal to investors that the ecosystem is maturing.
Why Ethereum’s 2025 Upgrades Matter for Fundraising
Here’s the thing: when you’re hunting for investment, what really counts is momentum plus trustworthiness. Ethereum nailed both in 2025.
Scaling wins. Vitalik Buterin highlighted some key improvements — gas limits went up, blob capacity doubled, enabling more activity per block and smoother data flow with less overhead. Pretty huge. Vitalik Buterin Ethereum progressed in 2025 — must decentralize in 2026
Performance thresholds hit. zkEVMs moved from theory to real-world use, making zero-knowledge scaling something you can actually depend on.
Protocol simplification underway. The goal? Shrink the complexity. They’re tweaking consensus layers and even replacing parts of the EVM with stuff like RISC-V, aiming to cut down maintenance headaches and risks. How Ethereum aims to simplify: Vitalik Buterin wants to make Ethereum as simple as Bitcoin
Investors love solid foundations. These upgrades are Ethereum’s way of ticking those boxes: growth, reliability, and less risk all wrapped up.
Real-World Examples: What Changed in Practice
Let me break down what “meaningful technical progress” actually looks like day-to-day for apps, users, and infrastructure.
| Feature | Before | After / In Progress |
|---|---|---|
| Block gas limits | Small blocks, frequent congestion | Pectra upgrade doubled blobs per slot and raised gas limits significantly, easing bottlenecks. Cointelegraph: Vitalik strategy scaling Ethereum strengthening ETH |
| Node operation | Heavy storage, high CPU usage | zkEVMs lighten the load. Believe it or not, running a node on your phone or smartwatch is becoming possible. Pro BlockChain: 400 TPS and Ethereum on Your Phone |
| Transaction finality | Took minutes under heavy load | Finality now approaches around 30 to 60 seconds, thanks to single-slot or 3-slot finality developments. |
| Developer complexity | EVM with tons of legacy features | A roadmap to simplify consensus, execution, and the codebase promises easier onboarding for new devs. CoinDesk: Vitalik Buterin wants to make Ethereum as simple as Bitcoin |
One practical note: even with simplification, legacy support isn’t going away overnight. So apps built on older tech won’t just break next week.
What These Milestones Signal to Investors
These aren’t just geeky updates; they’re loud signals to anyone with skin in the game.
- Lower risk of failure. Cleaning up code and architecture means fewer bugs and less chance of nasty surprises.
- Faster time to market. Easier tools speed up building dApps, DeFi projects, or enterprise apps, saving both time and money.
- Enabled scale. More transactions and quicker finality make high-demand sectors, like finance or gaming, more viable on Ethereum.
- Ecosystem credibility. Momentum matters. Institutional investors notice real upgrades — things like ETH ETFs, blob scaling, and Layer-2 interoperability show Ethereum is maturing. AINVEST: Vitalik Buterin Future Ethereum Investment Potential
How Companies Should Position Themselves
If you’re chasing funding, now’s the time to lean into Ethereum’s progress.
- Show how your project leverages zkEVMs or simpler execution layers.
- Highlight benefits from increased blob capacity or quicker finality in your architecture.
- Put decentralization, security, and privacy front and center — those are Ethereum’s big focuses in 2025.
I’ve found that DeFi startups live on Layer-2, using zero-knowledge proofs and gearing up for streamlined base layers tend to attract more investor interest than those stuck on heavy custom setups without a clear plan.
FAQs
Q: What are “blobs” and why do they matter?
A: Blobs come from EIP-4844 and boost data availability for rollups. More blobs mean lower fees and faster transactions on Layer-2. Vitalik’s roadmap aims to double blobs per slot with Pectra and then push even further. Cointelegraph: Vitalik strategy scaling Ethereum strengthening ETH
Q: What are zkEVMs and PeerDAS?
A: zkEVMs are zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines — they verify transactions privately and efficiently. PeerDAS is a data availability method cutting costs and delays for L2 rollups. Together, they’re Ethereum’s biggest leap toward global-scale blockchain, according to Vitalik. Vitalik Buterin Ethereum progressed in 2025 — must decentralize in 2026
Q: Is simplification going to break older apps?
A: Probably not. The team plans a phased transition. Old EVM contracts will run through interpreters at first, so backward compatibility remains a priority. CoinDesk: Vitalik Buterin wants to make Ethereum as simple as Bitcoin
Q: How fast is Ethereum becoming usable by non-specialists?
A: Quite fast. With lighter nodes and modular components, running a node on your phone or smartwatch isn’t sci-fi anymore. Wallets will soon likely include privacy tools by default. Pro BlockChain: 400 TPS and Ethereum on Your Phone
What’s Still on the Horizon (And What Investors Should Ask About)
Ethereum isn’t finished yet — far from it.
Here’s what’s coming and what you should keep an eye on:
- Decentralization risks. Keeping control spread out is crucial. Vitalik made it clear decentralization will be a top priority in 2026. XT.com: Vitalik Buterin Ethereum progressed in 2025 — must decentralize in 2026
- Privacy by default. Protocols like EIP-7701 and mixnets are in the pipeline. Investors should definitely ask about how your project manages privacy. Reddit: Privacy by default discussion
- Finality improvements. Although 3-slot finality is rolling out, adoption varies by network. It’s smart to ask for specific timelines. Pro BlockChain: 400 TPS and Ethereum on Your Phone
2025 was a milestone year. Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum community didn’t just plan upgrades — they delivered. If you want funding, showing you’re aligned with these advances, focusing on simplicity and decentralization, will make your pitch pop.
And hey, if you need a hand with messaging, your tech roadmap, or investor decks shaped around Ethereum’s path, I’m happy to help.