According to researcher Thomas Colagger, Ethereum Builder outlined the Lean Ethereum roadmap, which aims to trim Layer-1 complexity while enhancing security. via x on June 12th.
Co-founder Vitalik Buterin and researcher Justin Drake discussed the concept during a breakout session at the Forschungsingenieurtagung conference in Berlin. We propose three guided goals: security, simplicity and optimality.
“Lean Ethereum”
Coratger writes that the roadmap has requested a ready signature for Quantum and re-created data availability to protect the ledger from future encryption threats.
He added that new contributors can audit code without a steep learning curve, as simplicity comes from a slim consensus, execution and data layer. Optimality aims to keep Ethereum competitive while maintaining decentralization.
Buterin explained the efforts in four research tracks already being reviewed. The first is a three-stage (3SF) protocol that provides rapid block finality in a compact code base, while the second is the tetramer signature after aggregation.
The third research track focuses on zero-knowledge virtual machines that allow for verifiable execution, using a data layer refactor that merges blobs through erased coding and rounds up the track.
Drake connected these tracks to existing strategic items, including user experience upgrades, scalability work, and full chain sampling.
“Lean” banner
Additionally, Drake laid out some short-term proposals under the “lean” banner.
Lean verification allows low-power devices to see blocks with gentle bandwidth. A lean cryptography approach reduces the protocol’s dependence on multiple primitives and supports single hash functions and mass schemes wherever possible.
He also promoted “lean specs”, splitting the logic into smaller modules, and “lean formal verification” starting with ZK-VMS and signature aggregation.
Coratger focused on the consistency between these ideas and active engineering work, including the Fork-Choice Enforced Inclusion List, ZKEVM Pilots, and beamroadmap prototypes.
He reported that although he acknowledged the difficulty of session participants achieving optimality, he deemed the reward valuable, particularly as the roll-up and intensive sequencers reconstruct the layer 2 processing.
Basic response
Tomasz Stańczak, co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation explained Drake’s presentation as an integration of current projects and future prospects for long distance research.
Stanczak writes that many ideas have gone on to test, others have evolved, calling the roadmap “unifying theory” rather than an immediate directive. He added that the story motivated contributors by linking today’s milestone to the broader technical horizon.
However, Lean Ethereum remains a research framework without the proposal of a scheduled hard fork. The core team plans to improve design documentation, prototype features such as MINI-3SF, and evaluate the trade-offs for working group calls.
