A comprehensive redesign proposal named ‘Lean Ethereum’ aims to fundamentally enhance the Ethereum blockchain by integrating advanced technologies to address quantum resistance, scalability, and system simplicity. The initiative centers on three core innovations: Zero-Knowledge Virtual Machines (ZK-VMs), Data Availability Sampling (DAS), and the RISC-V instruction set.
ZK-VMs enable verifiable off-chain computations without exposing underlying data, strengthening both user privacy and network scalability. Concurrently, DAS reduces node storage requirements by allowing decentralized verification of block data—eliminating the need for full downloads—to boost decentralization. The RISC-V framework simplifies Ethereum’s consensus layer codebase, improving transparency and ensuring long-term hardware compatibility.
Implementation challenges include complex migration pathways and maintaining backward compatibility with existing Ethereum applications and users. If successfully executed, Lean Ethereum could pioneer quantum-resistant blockchain standards and significantly influence broader ecosystem development.