Ethereum in Ten Years: Growing Expertise from Technology to Philosophy

The Ladder of Technology Toward a Long-Term Mission

In the past decade, Ethereum has grown like a ladder continuously climbed by the global community. It’s not just infrastructure—it’s become a bridge to a more open and decentralized world. When Ethereum Devconnect was held in Buenos Aires, founder Vitalik Buterin demonstrated how understanding of the network has shifted from purely technical details to deeper values and principles.

Ethereum is moving into a new phase of growth. Ten years after the mainnet launched in 2015, the network has undergone significant changes—from foundational infrastructure to recognizing its true influence on the chain. As Vitalik said: “Ethereum can be a flag guiding the world toward a place that combines permissionless technology and decentralized security, offering true freedom and transparency.”

Changing Approaches: From Deep Technical Analysis to Practical Value

The tone shift from Vitalik between 2024 and 2025 is evident in his speeches. Last year, he focused on the “world computer”—how Ethereum L1 serves as a trust anchor, while L2 functions like an advanced processing unit. He explained in detail how everything connects through optimistic proofs, zero-knowledge proofs, and various cryptographic innovations.

This year, Vitalik used FTX as a real-world example. He showed how a centralized exchange failed due to lack of transparency and accountability. This led him to highlight Ethereum’s key difference—it is built on mathematics and community consensus, not trust in a single company. Through zero-knowledge proof and fully homomorphic encryption, he demonstrated how technology can be made “cosmolocal”—remaining global but secured by a decentralized network.

The New Governance Model: Guardian, Not Controller

Hsiao-Wei Wang, Co-Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation, explained the Foundation’s new role using the metaphor of a ladder. “Our job is to strengthen the ladder, not to climb it,” he said. The meaning is simple but profound—the Foundation nurtures, but does not control.

The three new capabilities of the Foundation at this stage are:

• Reliable operation: No downtime even during major upgrades
• Flexibility: Allowing various technological directions within the ecosystem
• Responsible governance: Assisting but not dictating

Ethereum’s decade-long accumulation is the result of relentless testing and engineering discipline. Every major upgrade undergoes strict processes to ensure 100% availability. This gives developers confidence to build large projects on the network.

ZK-EVM and Real-Time Verification: The Breakthrough Awaited

One of the main announcements at Devconnect was the ZK-EVM technology entering Alpha stage. Brevis’s Pico Prism zkEVM achieved 99.6% real-time proof in just 12 seconds, using 64 Nvidia RTX 5090 consumer-grade graphics cards.

This is a game-changer for one simple reason: blocks should be proven while being created, not afterward. Currently, each validator re-executes every transaction—this is costly and slow. In the new model, one prover creates the proof, and others can verify it in just milliseconds.

The implications are huge for scalability and cost-efficiency of the entire network.

The Upcoming Fusaka Upgrade: Step Toward Mass Adoption

Next month, the Fusaka upgrade will go live on the Ethereum mainnet. This upgrade aims to give the network flexibility while maintaining decentralization.

EIP-7825 introduces sub-blocks that enable parallel proofs. This means more transactions can be processed simultaneously, preparing the network for the next level of growth.

Institutional Needs: Why Ethereum Is Necessary

Danny Ryan, former core researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, shared an in-depth analysis of Ethereum’s role in the institutional world. Traditional finance still uses T+1 or T+2 settlement—old practices for the digital age. Ethereum offers instant settlement and 100% transparency.

But it’s not just about speed. Institutions need:

• Decentralized infrastructure layer available 24/7
• Security matching trillions of assets
• Privacy and mature application layer

Ethereum’s modular design and L2 ecosystem address these needs. Institutions can build their own L2, based on Ethereum for security, while customizing features for specific use cases.

“Trustless Manifesto”: Returning to Fundamentals

The recently published “The Trustless Manifesto” by Vitalik and co-authors sets a philosophical foundation for Ethereum’s new era. This document emphasizes three key principles:

• No critical secrets controlled by a few
• No indispensable intermediaries
• No unverifiable results

The manifesto makes a high promise: if only privileged people can participate, it’s not truly “permissionless.” It directly criticizes how email, originally an open protocol, became centralized—dominated now by a few due to spam filters and reputation systems.

Ethereum as a World Ledger, Not Just a Computer

Vitalik has refined his vision for Ethereum. It’s no longer just the “world computer”—it is “the world ledger.” Changing the terminology carries deep meaning.

If we think of a ledger as a book, ETH is like the ink used to write. The role of L2 has continuously expanded, but Ethereum Layer 1 remains the most robust base.

Ethereum’s Role in Freedom and Privacy

Ethereum exists for two reasons:

1. To provide tools to protect freedom, autonomy, and the ability of people to organize without relying on a company or country

2. To build a global community that believes in decentralized finance, new forms of custody, and privacy

Privacy should not be a special feature—it should be standard in all wallets. Vitalik said: “Privacy is freedom. It is a fundamental right that we all must protect. Everyone in the Ethereum ecosystem should support this.”

The Future: 10,000 TPS and Beyond

According to Ryan Sean Adams of Bankless, through triple annual scaling, Ethereum mainnet could reach 10,000 transactions per second by April 2029. Zero-knowledge verification will push the base layer to this speed while maintaining decentralization and security—the ultimate goal of blockchain.

ETH is currently trading at $3.12K, with a +0.59% 24-hour change and $432.22M in trading volume. Market cap has reached $376.58B, reflecting growing confidence in the ecosystem’s long-term vision.

Every Step Is a New Beginning

Ethereum does not end—it continues to grow and adapt. As Hsiao-Wei Wang said, every new step added by builders will be the starting point for the next arrivals. The growth ceremony does not end; it is an endless process of development.

In ten years, Ethereum has become more than just technology—it is a movement reflecting the human need for transparency, freedom, and control over their own future.