On 03 January 2026, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin stated that Ethereum has effectively solved the long-standing blockchain trilemma, the challenge of balancing security, decentralization, and scalability. According to him, recent network upgrades have turned Ethereum into a more advanced and powerful decentralized system.

This article explains how Ethereum is tackling the blockchain trilemma through major upgrades like PeerDAS and ZK-EVMs, and what this means for the network’s future scalability and decentralization.

What is the Blockchain Trilemma?

The concept of the Blockchain Trilemma, introduced by Vitalik Buterin, suggests that simultaneously achieving high levels of decentralization, security, and scalability is inherently difficult.

Traditional Blockchains, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, often face limitations on transaction throughput and confirmation times. As these networks grow, scalability becomes a pressing concern, potentially compromising decentralization and security.

• Decentralization ensures that no single entity controls the entire network, making it resistant to censorship and corruption.
• Security is paramount for protecting transaction integrity and maintaining trust within the network.
• Scalability, on the other hand, refers to a Blockchain’s ability to handle an increasing number of transactions without compromising speed and efficiency.

For a more detailed description of the Blockchain Trilemma, read the article.

Major Reason Behind Vitalik’s Announcement

Vitalik Buterin’s statement is based on two major technological developments that significantly improve Ethereum’s performance without compromising decentralization or security.

1. PeerDAS

What is PeerDAS?

PeerDAS (Peer-to-Peer Data Availability Sampling) was introduced with Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade. It is designed to improve how data is handled on the Ethereum network, especially for Layer 2 blockchains.

Why Data Availability Matters

One of the biggest challenges for Ethereum Layer 2 solutions is data availability. Rollups send transaction data to Ethereum’s main chain (Layer 1) for verification. The amount of data that can be sent directly affects how many transactions these rollups can process.

Earlier upgrades introduced data blobs, which increased capacity. However, larger blobs also meant higher storage pressure on node operators.

How PeerDAS Solves This

With PeerDAS:

• Nodes store only small portions of blob data
• Through sharding, different nodes store different data pieces
• Nodes verify data availability by sampling around 1/8th of the total data
• This keeps storage requirements low while maintaining security

As a result, Ethereum can support more Layer 2 activity without overloading its nodes. Vitalik also suggested that PeerDAS could eventually be applied directly to Ethereum’s Layer 1, enabling even higher transaction throughput.

ZK-EVMs

What Are ZK-EVMs?

Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (ZK-EVMs) enable Ethereum to verify transactions without fully executing them. Instead, they rely on zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) that mathematically confirm the correctness of transactions.

Why ZK-EVMs Are Important

• ZK proofs are smaller and faster to verify
• Nodes require less computation and storage
• Transaction validation becomes cheaper and more efficient

This dramatically improves Ethereum’s scalability while preserving decentralization, as more users can run nodes with lower hardware requirements.

Roadmap for Ethereum’s Future

Vitalik emphasized that Ethereum’s scaling journey will unfold over several years:

2026:

Large gas limit increases
Early opportunities to run ZK-EVM nodes

2026 – 2028:

Gas repricing adjustments
Changes to Ethereum’s state structure
Moving execution data into blobs for safer scaling

2027 – 2030:

Major gas limit increases
ZK-EVMs are becoming the primary method for block validation

He also highlighted distributed block building, aiming for a future where no single entity controls block creation. This approach reduces centralization risks and improves geographical fairness across the network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the blockchain trilemma been solved?

According to Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum has effectively addressed the blockchain trilemma by combining PeerDAS for data scalability and ZK-EVMs for efficient transaction validation, while maintaining decentralization and security.

Which crypto solves the trilemma?

As of 03 January 2026, Vitalik Buterin stated that Ethereum has made the strongest progress toward solving the blockchain trilemma through its recent upgrades and long-term roadmap.

What is the solution to the blockchain trilemma?

Ethereum’s solution involves PeerDAS and ZK-EVMs. Together, these innovations allow Ethereum to scale without sacrificing security or decentralization.

Related Reads:

• What Is The Blockchain Trilemma?
• How Are Layer 1 Solutions Solving Blockchain Trilemma?
• How Are Layer 2 Solutions Solving Blockchain Trilemma?
• Fusaka Upgrade: Ethereum’s New Power Move for L2s and Everyday Stakers