Generally, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a fundamental redesign to the base protocol of Ethereum, in order to simplify the network’s architecture while addressing the age-old concerns about technical complexity, security risks, and slow scalability.
In a blog post titled “Simplifying the L1” published on May 3, 2025, Buterin expressed his vision for a cleaner, more efficient Ethereum that embraces the minimalist approach that the Bitcoin community has long been promoting.
What’s the Problem?
Over the years, Ethereum has become increasingly complex. Its modular approach—though powerful—has led to duplicated systems, higher development overhead, and growing attack surfaces. According to Buterin, this complexity is now holding the protocol back.
“Unnecessary complexity leads to bloated timelines, higher costs, and more bugs,” he wrote.
The Solution: A New Ethereum Base Layer
Buterin’s proposal focuses on simplifying three key areas of the Ethereum stack:
1. Consensus Layer: Enter 3-Slot Finality
At the heart of the plan is a new mechanism called 3-slot finality, which would replace Ethereum’s current system of epochs, sync committees, and validator shuffling.
- Fewer validators active per slot → simpler fork choice
- Easier light client support
- Lower attack surface and technical risk
2. Execution Layer: Move to ZK-Friendly RISC-V VM
Buterin recommends moving away from the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to a zero-knowledge-compatible virtual machine based on RISC-V, a simple and auditable open-source instruction set.
- Promises 100x faster zero-knowledge proof generation
- Simplifies auditing and optimizes future ZK rollup integrations
- Maintains backward compatibility via an EVM interpreter
3. Standardization & Code Limits
To reduce fragmentation, Buterin wants to standardize core protocol components—such as serialization formats (SSZ), erasure coding methods, and tree structures.
He also floated the idea of a “max line-of-code” principle for consensus-critical logic, similar to lightweight AI frameworks like Tinygrad. The goal: push non-critical features outside the protocol’s core and keep the L1 lean.
A Bigger Role for Ethereum in AI?
The proposal arrives amid growing speculation that Ethereum could be pivotal in solving centralization challenges in artificial intelligence. Former Ethereum core dev Eric Connor recently argued that Ethereum’s trustless infrastructure could decentralize AI systems, combatting the black-box nature of current models.
Buterin’s emphasis on transparency, modularity, and simplicity dovetails with these emerging use cases—suggesting Ethereum may not only become more scalable but also more relevant in broader tech debates.
Challenges Ahead
But not everyone is convinced. Critics like venture capitalist Nic Carter have argued that Layer-2 networks and excessive token issuance are already weakening Ethereum’s base layer value proposition. He claims Ethereum is “being eaten alive” by its own ecosystem.
Buterin’s vision may, in part, be a response to that criticism—streamlining Ethereum’s core to protect its integrity and reaffirm its central role in the Web3 stack.
Vitalik Buterin’s plan to simplify Ethereum is bold, but well-timed. As Ethereum juggles growing adoption, Layer-2 fragmentation, and regulatory pressure, a leaner, smarter base protocol could be the key to long-term relevance and resilience.
“Simplicity is similar to decentralization,” Buterin wrote. And if Ethereum is to thrive for decades, simplicity may be exactly what it needs now.
