Vitalik Buterin sees a big problem for Ethereum

Vitalik Buterin is very concerned about Ethereum. According to him, people do not realize that the blob count of Ethereum is “uncomfortably close” to a ceiling.

What is the blob count Buterin is talking about?

Ethereum has taken an important step in increasing its scalability and efficiency with the introduction of blobs. Blobs, large amounts of data stored outside the blockchain itself, play a crucial role in improving network performance, especially with Layer 2 solutions such as rollups.

These blobs allow Ethereum to process more data without weighing down the blockchain itself, leading to faster transactions and lower fees.

The blob count refers to the maximum number of blobs that can be processed per Ethereum block. Currently this number is limited to 2-4 blobs per block, depending on capacity and network traffic. This cap is set to ensure that the network remains stable, but it also comes with limitations.

Vitalik Buterin now warns that Ethereum blob count ceiling approaches. With the increasing popularity of rollups and other scalability solutions, the demand for blob space is growing rapidly. Once this cap is reached, bottlenecks can arise, leading to higher costs and slower transactions.

Blobs have become an essential part of Ethereum’s infrastructure, and while they are a big step forward in increasing scalability, they also bring new challenges.

Essential for the future of Ethereum

Vitalik Buterin believes that layer-2 networks are essential for scaling Ethereum, but he also emphasizes that they must be decentralized. Of course, a layer-2 network that is completely centralized is of no use to us.

Then we might as well opt for a centralized solution straight away. That is the major challenge that Ethereum faces. What is decentralized enough and how can the blockchain reach that state?

I take this seriously. Starting next year, I plan to only publicly mention (in blogs, talks, etc) L2s that are stage 1+, with *maybe a short grace period* for new genuinely interesting projects.

It doesn’t matter if I invested, or if you’re my friend; stage 1 or bust.

Multiple… pic.twitter.com/4cGxgsfmUc

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) September 12, 2024

For Vitalik Buterin, the time for playing and trying is now really over. According to him, it is high time for Ethereum to take the next steps in its development. This means that he will ignore layer-2 solutions that are not decentralized enough.

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