Joseph Lubin: Ethereum will not have a "second foundation" or become a protocol entirely based on zero-knowledge proofs within 3 to 5 years.

According to Mars Finance, Consensys CEO Joseph Lubin stated that Ethereum is expected to evolve into a protocol entirely based on zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) within the next 3 to 5 years. This will not only optimize the mainnet but also enhance the composability of Ethereum with Layer 2. Lubin stated his support for a "rollup-centric roadmap," believing that by strengthening Layer 1, introducing the "Lean Ethereum" initiative, and promoting ZK proofs, the Ethereum base layer can be significantly upgraded. Lean Ethereum aims to achieve over 10,000 transactions per second while maintaining a highly decentralized mainnet, and supports privacy and quantum-resistant computing solutions. Regarding Layer 2, Lubin pointed out that ZK technology has already achieved real-time proofs on some L2 networks and plans to extend this capability to Layer 1, ultimately transitioning to a fully ZK-based protocol supported by multiple provers. For example, projects like Consensys' Linea chain and Gnosis are using zero-knowledge proofs to achieve cross-network synchronous transactions, potentially eliminating bridging requirements and unifying fragmented liquidity. Joseph Lubin emphasized that the initial "differentiation phase" of the Rollup roadmap aims to provide experimental space for Layer 2 technologies. While this may disperse liquidity in the short term, it lays the foundation for Ethereum's future unlimited scaling and technological iteration. He believes that some L2 technologies will become systemically important components, and this exploratory process is necessary. Furthermore, Joseph Lubin addressed recent personnel changes at the Ethereum Foundation (EF) and rumors of a "second foundation," stating that there will be no second foundation. EF will continue to focus on core protocol development, usability and scaling, and institutional partnerships, while supporting at least three independent teams to spin off from EF, focusing on protocol, user experience, and institutional outreach.