Buterin: Ethereum entering new form of decentralized network with ZK-EVM, PeerDAS

Ethereum (ETH) founder Vitalik Buterin stated on X that the network is evolving into a fundamentally new type of decentralized network. This evolution is driven by Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (ZK-EVMs) entering an alpha stage with production-level performance and the mainnet application of PeerDAS, a key feature of the Pectra upgrade. Buterin contrasted this with previous network types, which he categorized as "Torrent-type" (from 2000) and "Bitcoin-type" (from 2009). He explained that Torrent offers high bandwidth but lacks consensus, while Bitcoin has consensus but features low bandwidth and simple replication of work rather than distribution. In contrast, he emphasized that the combination of PeerDAS and ZK-EVMs is enabling Ethereum to achieve all three key elements: decentralization, consensus, and high bandwidth. Buterin also outlined the following technical outlook for Ethereum over the next four years: - 2026: Gas limits will be raised independently of ZK-EVMs, and initial ZK-EVM nodes will become operational. - 2026-2028: Stabilization efforts will include overhauling the state structure, converting execution payloads into blobs, and redesigning gas rates. - 2027-2030: ZK-EVMs will become the default method for block validation, allowing for further large-scale expansions of the gas limit.