Vitalik: ZK-EVM and PeerDAS Combination to Propel Ethereum towards a New Decentralized Network Form

In a recent update, Vitalik Buterin announced that ZK-EVM has entered the alpha stage with production-level performance, focusing on security enhancements. Meanwhile, PeerDAS has officially launched on the Ethereum mainnet. Vitalik emphasized that this transformation is not just incremental optimization, but a shift towards a new P2P network form for Ethereum, combining decentralization, consensus mechanisms, and high bandwidth.

He explained that while BitTorrent offers high bandwidth but lacks consensus, and Bitcoin has consensus but limited bandwidth due to full replication, Ethereum aims to achieve decentralization, consensus, and high throughput simultaneously with the introduction of PeerDAS (data availability sampling) and ZK-EVM. The three challenges have been addressed through 'real code running on the mainnet.' PeerDAS is already operational on the mainnet, and ZK-EVM has reached production-level performance.

Vitalik projected that starting in 2026, with mechanisms like BAL and ePBS advancing, the Gas limit will gradually increase, providing opportunities to run ZK-EVM nodes. From 2026 to 2028, there will be Gas repricing, state structure adjustments, and execution load entering blob. By 2027-2030, ZK-EVM is expected to become the primary method for network block validation, further boosting Gas limit increases.

Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of distributed block construction, aiming to avoid complete block construction at any single location and decentralize block construction power through on-chain or off-chain protocols to reduce centralization risks and enhance geographical fairness in the long term.

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