Ethereum is often called the “world computer” for blockchain. It goes beyond sending digital money. It’s a platform where anyone can build decentralized apps, or “dApps,” that run on a network of computers instead of a single server.
The Ethereum community is huge. Developers all over the world keep finding new ways to use smart contracts—self-executing agreements—on Ethereum. These can help with everything from trading digital art (NFTs) to building new financial tools. By giving power back to the users, Ethereum promises more control, more transparency, and fewer middlemen.
Ethereum roadmap’s main goal is to be faster, cheaper, and more secure for everyone. There are several big Ethereum upgrades in 2025 that you need to be aware of:
- Single slot finality
- Proposer-builder separation
- Account abstraction
- Statelessness and state expiry
- Spectra
- Verkle trees
These upgrades focus on easing congestion, cutting Ethereum transaction fees, and making the network simpler to use.
Ethereum upgrade: Single slot finality
Single slot finality is all about speed and certainty. Right now, when you send a transaction, you often wait for more than one block to be sure it won’t get reversed. With single slot finality, that wait disappears. Your transaction is confirmed in one go—no multiple confirmations needed.
Imagine buying concert tickets online. You pay, and within the same block, you know your purchase is locked in. That’s the power of single slot finality. It also cuts down the chance of chain reorganizations, which can mess with the order of transactions. When blocks finalize faster, the network becomes safer against attacks.
For users, this means less stress. This benefits a lot of blockchain activities:
- DEX trading: Quick finality means you can see your tokens right away. No more anxious waiting for multiple block confirmations.
- NFT marketplaces: When you buy or sell a digital collectible, you’ll know it’s locked in for good in a matter of seconds.
- DeFi lending and borrowing: Faster finality makes it safer to move funds between protocols, reducing the chance of disruptions during quick trades.
- Gaming and metaverse apps: Real-time upgrades—like in-game asset transfers—feel more natural when transactions finalize almost instantly.
Ethereum upgrade: proposer-builder separation
Traditionally in blockchains like Ethereum, the same validator (the network participant who creates new blocks) does two things:
- Propose a block: This means picking which transactions will go into the next block.
- Build that block: This means deciding the order of those chosen transactions.
Putting both tasks in one person’s hands can create problems. For example, imagine seeing that someone is about to buy a token at a low price. If you’re the one picking and ordering transactions, you could sneak your own purchase in right before theirs, pushing up the price and leaving them to buy at a higher cost. This is known as “front-running.”
Proposer-builder separation aims to fix that by splitting these tasks between two different parties:
- Proposer: Chooses which transactions go into the block.
- Builder: Orders those transactions within the block.
Separating these roles makes the process fairer and less prone to manipulation. Some key activities that benefit include:
- On-chain auctions: You don’t want bids to be shuffled last minute, giving unfair advantages.
- Aggregated DEX swaps: Large multi-step trades can proceed without middlemen messing with the order to take a cut.
- Cross-chain bridges: Predictable ordering helps keep multi-chain transfers safer and more reliable.
- Flash-loan services: Complex transactions that rely on tight timing won’t be secretly reordered for someone else’s gain.
Ethereum upgrade: Account abstraction
Ethereum accounts come in two types today:
Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) / Private Key Accounts:
- Think of it like a house key. Whoever has the private key (or seed phrase) controls the account.
- It has its own address to receive tokens.
- Simple to use, but if you lose your key, you lose access forever.
Contract Accounts:
- Controlled by code—a smart contract that can follow all sorts of rules, like requiring multiple sign-offs.
- Also has an address to receive tokens, just like any other account.
- Very flexible, but setting one up and using it can be more technical.
Account abstraction aims to merge the best of both worlds by letting any account act more like a smart contract. That means you can set up advanced rules—like multiple signers or wallet recovery—without juggling complex code or special wallets.
Why it matters?
- Easier login and recovery: Imagine being able to restore your wallet with help from trusted friends or devices, instead of memorizing a 12-word seed phrase.
- Smoother transactions: You could pay transaction Ethereum transaction fees in any token, not just ETH, or have a different security process for big transfers versus small ones.
- Less tech friction: New users won’t need to wrap their heads around private keys and complicated tools. They can log in with something familiar—like their phone’s security or a social login.
In short, account abstraction turns your Ethereum account into a flexible toolkit. You can protect your funds with modern methods (like two-factor authentication or biometrics) and avoid the headache of losing a single all-important password. This helps everyday folks feel safer experimenting with crypto, and it makes building user-friendly apps on Ethereum simpler for developers.
Ethereum upgrade: Statelessness and state expiry
Imagine Ethereum as a giant library of data. Each time a new transaction happens—someone sends ETH, mints an NFT, or uses a DeFi app—this library grows. Over time, storing all this data becomes expensive. Nodes (the computers that keep Ethereum running) must hold the entire “state” of the network, which can be huge.
Statelessness changes how nodes process data. Each node can work with the network without permanently holding the entire Ethereum database. Think of it like borrowing a book, reading it, and then returning it. You only keep what you need in the moment.
State expiry goes a step further. It periodically removes or archives old, unused data. That might sound scary—like throwing away books—but it’s more like moving them into long-term storage. If no one reads them for a while, they get archived to save space. Should someone need the data later, they can pull it out from storage.
Why it matters
- Lighter nodes: Anyone can run a node without needing tons of hard drive space. That means more people can help secure the network.
- Better performance: Less bloat means faster syncing and quicker access for everyday activities like trading or gaming.
- Long-term sustainability: As Ethereum keeps growing, statelessness and state expiry make sure it stays manageable, instead of collapsing under its own weight.
For users, this leads to fewer slowdowns, more network participants, and a better chance of lower Ethereum transaction fees. Developers also have an easier time onboarding new folks, because running a node or experimenting with dApps doesn’t require massive hardware.
Ethereum upgrade: Spectra
Spectra is a proposed upgrade that aims to bring new levels of scalability and security to the Ethereum network. It does this by using off-chain coordination for most of the heavy lifting—collecting and sorting transactions—and on-chain validation for the final checks.
Think of it like a local board game competition: each table sorts out its own moves and winners (off-chain), and then they all report their final scores to the main scoreboard (on-chain). Because all the small details happen away from Ethereum’s core, the blockchain itself isn’t overwhelmed by every transaction’s complexity. That frees up space, allowing the network to handle more transactions in the same amount of time, without sacrificing the security of on-chain validation.
Why it matters
- Higher throughput: With off-chain sorting, Ethereum’s main chain can pack in more transactions per block, cutting down congestion and wait times.
- Lower Ethereum transaction fees: A less crowded network means Ethereum transaction fees aren’t driven up by competition for space, making Ethereum more affordable for everyday users.
- Enhanced security: Final transaction proofs still land on Ethereum’s ledger, so it remains tamper-proof and trustworthy.
- Smoother user experience: DApps feel more like regular web apps, whether you’re swapping tokens on a DEX or exploring a metaverse game.
For developers, Spectra opens the door to richer, more interactive features—knowing the platform can handle heavy usage. For everyone else, it’s a step closer to an Ethereum that’s fast, economical, and safe.
Ethereum upgrade: Verkle trees
Verkle trees are a data structure that help Ethereum store and prove blockchain data more efficiently. Verkle trees allow for smaller proof sizes and quicker verification, meaning nodes can confirm data without holding massive amounts of information.
Why it matters
- Less storage burden: Nodes don’t need to carry the entire blockchain state, lowering hardware requirements and encouraging more people to run nodes.
- Quicker syncing: As data becomes simpler to verify, new or returning participants can catch up to the network faster.
- Stronger decentralization: With more accessible node operation, power disperses evenly across more participants, protecting the network from single points of failure.
- Smoother user experience: A leaner, healthier network means faster, cheaper transactions, especially as Ethereum scales to support higher demand.
By introducing Verkle trees, Ethereum aims to stay agile. Even as the blockchain grows, this approach keeps the network from slowing down or becoming too heavy for everyday devices. That helps ensure Ethereum remains open and decentralized for everyone.
Vitalik's suggestions to improve Ethereum network
Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, believes that staking should be open to everyone—even those with just 1 ETH. Right now, the minimum required to stake is much higher, which stops many folks from joining. By lowering that threshold, Vitalik hopes to see more people securing the network, making future Ethereum upgrades both safer and more resilient.
He also outlined three solutions for reaching these ambitious goals:
- Signature aggregation protocol: This would gather all signatures in a transaction more efficiently, cutting down on data size and boosting network performance.
- Orbit committee mechanism: This committee would handle the validator selection process in a way that maximizes decentralization. Instead of letting large players dominate, the system spreads out power among more validators.
- Two-tier staking system: This approach lets users pick how they want to stake based on their resources and risk comfort. Some may lock up just 1 ETH and still help secure the network, while others might go in at a higher tier for potentially bigger rewards.
Despite the recent market volatility that’s pushed ETH’s price downward, staking activity is hitting record highs. More people are choosing to lock up their ETH, showing growing confidence in the network’s future. By making staking more democratic and upgrading how Ethereum handles transactions, Vitalik’s suggestions pave the way for a more open, secure, and lively ecosystem—even under the pressure of a fluctuating crypto market.
Vitalik’s solutions for Ethereum’s staking and block production
Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, recently outlined a series of solutions aimed at reducing centralization in both staking and block production—two areas he believes pose growing risks to the network. These ideas are tied to “The Scourge,” a key stage in Ethereum’s technical roadmap.
Concern over centralization in Etherum staking
In a post dated October 20, 2024, Buterin highlighted how economic forces are pushing smaller stakers to join large staking pools. He noted that two block builders—Beaverbuild and Titan Builder—produced nearly 88% of all Ethereum blocks during the first two weeks of October. Such heavy concentration can lead to higher transaction censorship risks and, in Buterin’s words, “other crises.”
Though staking 30% of ETH is enough to ward off 51% attacks for now, Buterin warns about potential issues if nearly all ETH ends up staked. Staking may become a lower-margin, high-obligation activity, weakening slashing penalties and possibly jeopardizing ETH’s “network effect” as a primary token.
How to decentralize Etherum staking?
To tackle these problems, Buterin proposes:
- Limiting the amount of ETH an individual can stake and capping staking penalties at 12.5% of the staked amount.
- Implementing a two-tier staking model—one “risk-bearing” (subject to slashing) and another “risk-free” (not subject to slashing). This way, participants can choose how deeply they want to engage based on their resources and risk tolerance.
Centralization in Etherum block production
Ethereum currently uses proposer/builder separation: specialized builders create blocks, and proposers select which block to finalize. However, Buterin observes that specializing tasks for certain parties has led to centralized dominance. While Ethereum’s security isn’t threatened yet, this setup could cause serious transaction censorship issues and longer delays—some users might wait 114 seconds instead of 6.
Etherum Block-building solutions
Buterin suggests:
- “Enforced inclusion list” via fork choice – This returns final control over transaction selection to the block proposer (the staker), while the builder can only arrange or insert their own transactions.
- “BRAID” – A more decentralized block production proposal that splits the process among multiple actors, each requiring only a moderate level of sophistication to maximize revenue. This prevents a single entity from controlling the block-building pipeline.
By distributing power away from large staking pools and block builders, Buterin’s proposals aim to preserve the core tenets of Ethereum: openness, security, and censorship-resistance. If implemented, these solutions may help Ethereum scale further without sacrificing the decentralization that underpins its trust and value.
Reinforce Ethereum network security against quantum computers
Vitalik Buterin also highlight the importance of protecting Ethereum from potential attacks. He suggests adopting a cryptographic technique called single secret leader election, which conceals the identity of the block proposer until the last moment. This makes it harder for adversaries to target validators or disrupt block creation.
Buterin also emphasizes the need to fortify Ethereum against quantum computing threats by raising the consensus threshold and improving resilience to 51% attacks. Quantum computers could become a serious challenge in the future, so preparing now is crucial. On top of that, faster transaction confirmations are a priority, ensuring users don’t face long waits.
Final thought
Looking ahead, Ethereum is gearing up for the Prague-Electra (Pectra) upgrade, expected to arrive in Q1 2025. Buterin’s recommendations fit into a broader vision of enhancing Ethereum’s security and reliability, keeping it ready to handle whatever tomorrow’s technology throws its way.
FAQ
What is the next Ethereum upgrade?
The next major Ethereum upgrade is Prague-Electra (Pectra), expected in Q1 2025. It includes key changes like single slot finality, proposer-builder separation, and Verkle trees. These improvements aim to enhance speed, security, and decentralization on Ethereum.
Will Ethereum reach $100,000?
While some enthusiasts dream of Ethereum hitting $100,000, it's highly speculative. Ethereum’s price depends on factors like adoption, network upgrades, and market conditions. Although significant growth is possible, reaching $100,000 remains uncertain and should be viewed with caution.
What is the big upgrade for Ethereum?
Ethereum’s big upgrade includes multiple improvements, such as single slot finality (faster confirmations), proposer-builder separation (fairer transactions), account abstraction (easier wallets), and Verkle trees (efficient data storage). These changes aim to make Ethereum faster, cheaper, and simpler for everyone.
