EF: In 2026, the focus will shift from speed to security, with strict 128-bit encryption rules.

According to Mars Finance, on December 21st, the Ethereum Foundation announced that it will shift its focus from speed to security in 2026, setting strict 128-bit encryption rules. The Foundation stated that zkEVM has made significant performance progress in the past year, but some solutions rely on unverified mathematical assumptions, theoretically posing a risk of on-chain state forgery. Therefore, the next phase will focus on strengthening formal verification, attack resistance, and fundamental cryptographic security. The Foundation will provide security audit and assessment tools, requiring zkEVM to reach a minimum 128-bit security strength by 2026, representing the current mainstream cryptographic standard. The new standard may slow down the progress of some scaling projects, but the Foundation emphasizes that in the long run, attack resistance and trustworthiness are crucial prerequisites for attracting institutions and high-value applications; security will be prioritized before performance improvements.