On May 3, Vitalik Buterin published an article titled “Simplifying Ethereum’s First Layer” on his personal blog.
Based on Vitalik’s article, this article further analyzes the importance of simplifying the first-layer protocol of blockchain and its significance to the DePIN infrastructure.
Ethereum is continuing to evolve on its way to becoming a global trusted infrastructure. From the introduction of proof of stake in The Merge to the upcoming Fusaka hard fork to improve data availability, Ethereum continues to enhance its scalability and resilience. However, another long-underestimated but crucial direction is being refocused - the simplicity of the protocol .
In PowerBeats' view, with the gradual rise of decentralized infrastructure (DePIN), especially in high-performance scenarios such as decentralized cloud computing, ZK (Zero Knowledge) proof and AI reasoning, a simple, clear, low-cost and easy-to-integrate blockchain bottom layer has become more important than ever.
Why “Simplification” is the Next Step for Ethereum L1
Simple protocols are not only the pursuit of engineering aesthetics, but also directly related to the credibility, scalability and universality of blockchain. A recent article by Vitalik Buterin pointed out that overly complex protocol design has caused Ethereum to pay huge hidden costs in terms of R&D, maintenance, security, developer ecology, etc. Simplifying the protocol will bring:
● Lower development threshold : more developers can understand, participate and build protocol infrastructure.
● Higher security : Less code and clearer structure means fewer potential vulnerabilities and attack surfaces.
● Stronger credible neutrality : Reduce special interest bias at the protocol layer and make it more difficult to be controlled by “technical priests”.
● Lower long-term maintenance costs : This is beneficial to ecosystem participants such as core clients, validators, and development tools.
How to simplify Ethereum L1?
1. Simplification of the consensus layer
Ethereum is promoting a new consensus mechanism design (“beam chain”) with the following features:
● Introducing 3-slot finality greatly simplifies the slot/epoch logic, and the core mechanism only requires 200 lines of code.
● Reduce the number of active validators and simplify the fork selection rules.
● Adopt the STARK aggregation protocol to remove dependence on centralized aggregators.
● Restructure the validator management mechanism to make activation, exit, slashing and other operations clearer and more controllable.
The simplification of the consensus layer will reduce verification costs and enhance the feasibility of decentralized verification nodes.
2. Reconstruction of the execution layer
The current EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) has many structural redundancies and complexities (such as 256-bit architecture, difficult-to-remove instruction sets, and pre-compilation abuse). Vitalik proposed a more radical path - a one-time transition to a more efficient and simpler new virtual machine (such as RISC-V or ZK-native VM) to achieve:
● ZK proof performance improved by more than 100 times
● The instruction set is clearer and formal verification is easier
● Wider multi-language support and more flexible development tool chain
● Most precompiled functions will be eliminated, further enhancing protocol uniformity
What does simplifying L1 mean for the DePIN cloud computing ecosystem?
DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) represents a new frontier for blockchain applications, especially in computing power networks, distributed storage, and bandwidth markets. The impact of L1 simplification is roughly related to the following four aspects:
✅ Reduce participation threshold and operating costs
More efficient consensus and virtual machines mean that computing nodes no longer require expensive hardware, edge devices can also undertake basic tasks, and more computing nodes will be able to participate in the centralized cloud computing ecosystem with a lower threshold.
✅ Speed up development and deployment
Clearer protocol rules and a more friendly VM ecosystem help developers quickly build on-chain logic such as ZK verification, computing power distribution, incentive settlement, etc. This is very friendly to project parties, which means that decentralized cloud computing power ecosystem project parties can build on-chain operating systems more efficiently and quickly, and efficiently access idle computing power resources from individuals or large enterprises.
✅ Enhanced security and verifiability
The new VM that natively supports ZK allows the results of computing power execution to be efficiently verified on the chain, establishing a truly trusted distributed computing network. Thanks to the performance and value of the native ZKVM, this means that individuals or groups participating in DePIN can ensure sufficient security and verifiability while their node calculations and economic settlements are running efficiently on the chain.
✅ Protecting the infrastructure ideal of "trusted neutrality"
A simpler and more decentralized protocol will help prevent the concentration of resources in the hands of technology monopolists, allowing DePIN to be truly used by global users and further decentralized.
Conclusion: simpler and more future-oriented
As we build a new generation of decentralized cloud computing power and ZK-AI infrastructure, a transparent, simple, and robust blockchain foundation is no longer an option, but a prerequisite for success. Ethereum is moving steadily towards this goal, and as a DePIN builder, we will also gain unprecedented technical dividends from this change.
The future blockchain world will not be a fortress made up of more complex rules, but a simpler base that carries infinite possibilities.
Quote:
