Vitalik Buterin unveils new roadmap: Ethereum should become 6x faster

Co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shared a new roadmap for Ethereum (ETH). In it, he outlines how Ethereum wants to become faster and simpler in the coming years, while at the same time preparing for a future with quantum computers.

Block time should be increased from twelve to two seconds

Buterin describes three goals that are being introduced step by step: shorter block times, faster finality and extra security against quantum computers.

Ethereum now creates a new block roughly every twelve seconds. That should eventually be reduced to two seconds. According to Buterin, this can be done in phases: from twelve to eight, then six, four and finally two seconds. A more efficient way of communicating between computers in the network plays a key role in this.

In addition to faster blocks, Buterin also wants transactions to be finalized more quickly. It now takes an average of sixteen minutes before a transaction can no longer be reversed, the so-called finality. In the new design, this should be reduced to about six to sixteen seconds. According to Buterin, this can be done by replacing the current complex system with a simpler consensus model.

Ethereum is preparing for quantum computers

The third track is about protection against quantum computers. These are machines that could eventually crack the current encryption of blockchains. Ethereum therefore wants to switch to new cryptography that will also hold up in that scenario.

First upgrades already planned

The roadmap will be spread over several years, with approximately two major upgrades per year via hard forks. The next updates are called Glamsterdam and Hegotá.

Buterin emphasizes that the changes will come gradually. The end goal is a simpler, faster and quantum-resistant Ethereum network.

Ethereum price down 58% since summer peak

While Buterin is working on a major technical renovation, the market remains critical. The ETH price has fallen sharply since its peak last summer, when the price was still approaching $4,950. Ethereum is now around $2,060, a drop of more than 58%.

Sentiment is also cautious in the crypto market more broadly, causing several major coins to struggle to recover.