Vitalik Buterin Claims Ethereum Has Solved the Blockchain Trilemma

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently announced that Ethereum has effectively resolved the blockchain trilemma, an engineering challenge that previously forced blockchains to sacrifice one among decentralization, security, and scalability. This declaration comes after significant upgrades implemented in 2025, including the adoption of PeerDAS (data availability sampling) and advancements in Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (ZK-EVMs). These innovations allow Ethereum to process large data volumes while maintaining decentralization and security.

Now that ZKEVMs are at alpha stage (production-quality performance, remaining work is safety) and PeerDAS is live on mainnet, it’s time to talk more about what this combination means for Ethereum.

These are not minor improvements; they are shifting Ethereum into being a…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 3, 2026

The Blockchain Trilemma and Ethereum’s Breakthrough

The blockchain trilemma has shaped network design for years. Developers believed a system could optimize only two traits. Those traits included decentralization, security, and scalability.

Vitalik Buterin now argues Ethereum has moved beyond that constraint. Importantly, this claim relies on live mainnet code, not theory. Ethereum’s architecture blends high-bandwidth data availability with decentralized consensus. Buterin compares this model to combining BitTorrent’s distribution with Bitcoin’s trust assumptions.

The trilemma has been solved – not on paper, but with live running code, of which one half (data availability sampling) is *on mainnet today*, and the other half (ZK-EVMs) is *production-quality on performance today* – safety is what remains.

Vitalik Buterin

PeerDAS expands data availability across the network. At the same time, emerging ZK-EVM systems preserve security while scaling execution. Together, these components enable higher throughput without sacrificing decentralization. As a result, Ethereum supports both consensus integrity and growing transaction demand.

This shift reflects a long-term effort. Ethereum now moves closer to a shared computing platform, not just a settlement layer. However, Buterin frames this milestone as foundational. The broader ambition still lies ahead.

Toward a Decentralized, User-Centric Internet

Vitalik Buterin positions Ethereum’s advancements as a counter to the centralization seen in subscription-based internet services. He argues that many digital services rely on centralized third parties, risking censorship and data lock-ins. In contrast, Ethereum aims to be a “world computer” that passes the ‘walkaway test’—applications on Ethereum should continue functioning without dependence on any single party.

Buterin stresses that Ethereum must meet both global usability and full decentralization in its core software and applications. This vision challenges developers to eliminate centralized points of failure and ensure genuine end-user control. His roadmap includes increasing gas limits and shifting to distributed block building, a model where block creation authority is spread across multiple parties to prevent censorship or undue influence.

Roadmap to 2030 and Beyond

Looking ahead, Buterin outlines a multi-year roadmap extending toward 2030. Ethereum plans large gas limit increases around 2026. Rather than a single overhaul, upgrades will arrive incrementally.

During this period, ZK-EVMs are expected to become the primary validation mechanism. These systems reduce verification costs and improve performance. They also strengthen privacy guarantees across the network. This transition marks a structural change in how Ethereum validates computation.

The long-term objective centers on fully distributed block building. No single entity should assemble blocks. Instead, multiple parties should contribute to block formation. While this architecture remains complex, Ethereum treats it as essential.

Ultimately, these changes aim to support decentralized finance, governance, and identity systems at global scale. Ethereum’s roadmap prioritizes resilience first. Everything else builds on that foundation.

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