Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has just proposed a major proposal to improve the security and finality of Layer 2 (L2) scaling solutions. The new roadmap combines zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, optimistic aggregation (OP), and trusted execution environments (TEEs), enabling transactions on Ethereum to achieve higher reliability and faster finality.
Hybrid Proof Architecture – The Solution for Ethereum’s Phase 2
Ethereum’s L2 landscape is maturing, with many rollup solutions having reached Phase 1 in their scaling roadmap. But to continue moving forward to Phase 2, improvements in security and transaction confirmation speed are needed. Buterin proposes a three-prover system, where two of the three mechanisms must validate the rollup's state root to achieve finality.
According to this model:
- If both the ZK prover and the TEE prover approve a state root, the transaction is finalized immediately.
- If only one prover confirms, the system falls back to an optimistic model with a seven-day challenge period.
This structure helps ensure that even if one mechanism fails, the security of the system is maintained. The optimistic aggregation layer acts as a final arbiter, preventing semi-trusted systems from imposing a decision when there is disagreement during the validation process.
Security Council and Reducing Dependency on Semi-Trusted Components
A notable point in Buterin's proposal is the introduction of a security council. The council is tasked with intervening in exceptional situations, such as when the provers produce conflicting results. In addition, the council has the power to upgrade the TEE logic to handle potential bugs, as well as adjust the ZK or OP systems as needed.
By combining the three proof mechanisms, Ethereum can achieve a higher level of security without sacrificing speed or decentralization. ZK and OP rely on different mathematical assumptions, making the possibility of both being attacked extremely low. When combined with TEE, the system achieves a solid balance between speed, security, and decentralization.
Scaling with Blobs and Aggregate Proofs
In addition to improving the security architecture, Buterin also emphasized the role of the extended data layer in improving Ethereum's performance. He mentioned major upcoming upgrades, including:
- Pectra: Expected to launch in the next few weeks, which will increase the blob space to six units per block.
- Fusaka: This number can be expanded to 72, which will significantly increase the data bandwidth for rollup solutions, reducing congestion and transaction costs.
Another important improvement is a unified proof aggregation system across the entire Ethereum ecosystem. Currently, each protocol must submit individual ZK proofs, which increases gas costs. Buterin proposes an aggregation mechanism, where all applications can combine their outputs into a single proof, which will significantly reduce the gas costs for each transaction.
The Future of Ethereum – Towards Instant Finality
Buterin believes that as the ZK and OP systems continue to improve, Ethereum can completely eliminate TEEs, moving towards a fully decentralized system. The network will then achieve instant transaction finality without relying on any semi-trusted parties.
This roadmap will not only help Ethereum maintain its competitive edge in the blockchain space, but also open up strong opportunities for L2 scaling solutions. With the support of upcoming upgrades, Ethereum can achieve optimal scalability, speed, and security, paving the way for a more comprehensive blockchain ecosystem in the future.
