Ethereum Roadmap: What's Coming in 2023 and Beyond? π
Ethereum is a global, decentralized platform for money and new kinds of applications. On Ethereum, you can write code that controls money, and build applications that are accessible to anyone in the world. But Ethereum is not just a platform, it is also a community of researchers and developers who are constantly working to improve it. π
In this article, we will look at the Ethereum roadmap, which outlines the current plan for upgrading Ethereum, covering both near-term and future plans. We will also explain why Ethereum needs a roadmap, how it is defined, and what changes are coming to Ethereum in 2023 and beyond. π§
Why does Ethereum need a roadmap? π€
Ethereum gets regular upgrades that enhance its scalability, security, or sustainability. One of Ethereum's core strengths is adapting as new ideas emerge from research and development. Adaptability gives Ethereum the flexibility to tackle emerging challenges and keep up with the most advanced technological breakthroughs. π‘
However, upgrading a decentralized network is not easy. It requires coordination and consensus among thousands of nodes that run the network, as well as developers, users, and other stakeholders. That's why Ethereum needs a roadmap: to provide a clear vision and direction for the future of Ethereum, and to align the efforts of everyone involved. π
How is the roadmap defined? π
The roadmap is mostly the result of years of work by researchers and developers β because the protocol is very technical β but any motivated person can participate. Ideas usually start off as discussions on a forum such as ethresear.ch, Ethereum magicians or the Eth R&D discord server. They may be responses to new vulnerabilities that are discovered, suggestions from organizations working in the application layer (such as dapps and exchanges) or from known frictions for end users (such as costs or transaction speeds). π
When these ideas mature, they can be proposed as Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs). This is all done in public so that anyone from the community can weigh in at any time. More on Ethereum governance.
What changes are coming to Ethereum? π
The Ethereum roadmap covers both near-term and future plans for improving Ethereum. Some of the main goals are:
- Cheaper transactions: Ethereum aims to reduce fees by using layer 2 solutions such as rollups, which move transactions off-chain while maintaining security guarantees. Rollups are already available on Ethereum today, but they will become more integrated and user-friendly in the future. π₯
- More security: Ethereum aims to enhance its security by switching from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, which eliminates the risk of 51% attacks and reduces energy consumption. Proof-of-stake is already live on Ethereum through the Beacon Chain, which will merge with the mainnet in 2022. π
- Better user experience: Ethereum aims to improve its user experience by supporting more smart contract wallets and light-weight nodes, which make using Ethereum simpler and safer. Smart contract wallets allow users to access their funds with multiple devices or recovery methods, while light-weight nodes enable users to verify transactions without downloading the entire blockchain. π
- Future proofing: Ethereum aims to future-proof its network by solving tomorrow's problems today, such as quantum resistance, privacy, interoperability, and social scalability. Ethereum researchers and developers are exploring various solutions for these challenges, such as zk-SNARKs, zero-knowledge rollups, sharding, stateless clients, account abstraction, and more. π
How can I learn more about the Ethereum roadmap? π
If you want to learn more about the Ethereum roadmap, you can visit the official website at ethereum.org/en/roadmap, where you can find more details and resources about each upgrade. You can also follow the progress of the roadmap on eth2.news, which provides regular updates and news about Ethereum 2.0. π
Another way to learn more about the Ethereum roadmap is to join the community and participate in the discussions and decision-making process. You can join various forums, chat rooms, social media platforms, and events where you can meet other Ethereum enthusiasts, developers, researchers, and stakeholders. You can also contribute to the development of Ethereum by submitting EIPs, testing new features, reporting bugs, or donating to projects. π
Conclusion: Ethereum is on track to become a global platform for innovation π
Ethereum is not just a cryptocurrency, it is a platform for building decentralized applications that can transform various industries and sectors. Ethereum is constantly evolving and improving to meet the needs and expectations of its users and developers. The Ethereum roadmap is a clear vision and direction for the future of Ethereum, which will make it more scalable, secure, and sustainable. π
By following the Ethereum roadmap, Ethereum will become a global platform for innovation, where anyone can create and access new kinds of applications that are open, fair, and transparent. Ethereum will also become a more inclusive and diverse community, where anyone can participate and contribute to its development and governance. Ethereum will also become a more responsible and ethical network, where anyone can benefit from its positive social and environmental impact. π
If you are interested in Ethereum and want to be part of its journey, you can start by learning more about the Ethereum roadmap, joining the community, and using or building applications on Ethereum. You can also support Ethereum by investing in ETH, staking ETH on the Beacon Chain, or donating to projects that advance the Ethereum roadmap. Together, we can make Ethereum a better platform for everyone. π