Ethereum's future scalability: entering a new stage with Blob and zero-knowledge technology

In the future roadmap envisioned by the Ethereum Foundation, blob technology and zero-knowledge cryptography are emerging as core pillars. A recent interview with Xiaowei Wang, co-director of the Ethereum Foundation, suggested that zero-knowledge technology will play a decisive role in the network’s mid-term development direction. This is not merely a technical choice but a strategic decision for Ethereum to achieve scalability and security simultaneously.

Short-term scalability strategy realized through Layer 2 and blobs

Currently, Ethereum’s upgrade trajectory is moving along two axes. One is the improvement of the execution space(execution space) for Layer 2 networks, and the other is the expansion of blob space(blob space). In particular, blobs have contributed to drastically reducing transaction fees for rollup-based Layer 2 solutions since their introduction in the Dencun upgrade.

The core of blob technology is that it functions as temporary storage while not increasing the state size of the main chain. This allows Layer 2 to offer faster and cheaper transactions, laying the foundation for Ethereum ecosystem expansion. Continued expansion of blob space is expected to play a crucial role in handling large transaction volumes.

Zero-knowledge cryptography moving toward protocol-level innovation

In the past 1-2 years, there have been remarkable advances in zero-knowledge cryptography. Currently focused on Layer 2 scalability and data availability improvements, the Ethereum Foundation is increasingly evaluating the integration of zero-knowledge technology at the protocol level.

The reason this is important is clear. Directly incorporating zero-knowledge proofs into the Ethereum core can significantly reduce the computational workload required during network validation. As a result, scalability can be dramatically increased without compromising the core values of decentralization and trustworthiness of the blockchain. This presents a pathway to overcome the long-standing trilemma of scalability, security, and decentralization.

The unchanging core values of security and decentralization in Ethereum

Even as technology evolves, there are principles that Ethereum will not abandon. Xiaowei Wang emphasized that even with the introduction of new technologies like blobs and zero-knowledge proofs, resilience(resilience), censorship resistance(censorship resistance), and neutrality(neutrality) remain the unchanging core values of Ethereum.

This is not merely about pursuing technological advancement but reflects the philosophy Ethereum aspires to. The stance that core values cannot be compromised for scalability demonstrates Ethereum’s commitment to balancing technological progress with the spirit of decentralization. Innovations like blobs and zero-knowledge proofs are only integrated on this principle, and thus, Ethereum’s roadmap can be understood as pursuing not just performance improvements but philosophical consistency.