Across (@AcrossProtocol): 10 Key Takeaways from Vitalik's Essay on Scaling Ethereum in 2025

10 Key Takeaways from Vitalik's Essay on Scaling Ethereum in 2025 Vitalik Buterin just dropped a comprehensive essay (https://vitalik.eth.limo/general/2025/01/23/l1l2future.html) on plans to scale Ethereum in 2025 and beyond. And yes, unifying Ethereum with seamless crosschain experiences is a key theme. Let’s break down the points in plain English. 🖼️ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GiUA1oEXUAgBAZb.jpg (Takeaways from Vitalik'ss essay on scaling Ethereum.) 1) L2s Are Actually Working Remember when Layer 2s were recording baby steps in 2019? Now, they’re processing 17x more transactions than Ethereum could handle alone, and transaction fees are in the same order of magnitude cheaper. Not bad for what started as an experiment. These gains are powering a new wave of applications, from prediction markets to social networks and DeFi platforms serving millions. 2) Two Major Roadblocks Ahead 🖼️ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GiUBOVxXUAEyN9P.jpg (Two Major Roadblocks Ahead) While there has been major progress in Ethereum's scalability, there's still work to be done. Think of Ethereum like a busy highway. Right now, it's facing two traffic problems: not enough lanes (scale) and too many different types of vehicles following different rules (heterogeneity). The current "blob space" (think data highway) barely handles today's traffic, let alone tomorrow's rush hour. The plan? Give Ethereum more lanes through faster blob scaling while standardizing how different L2s work together. This isn't about choosing between speed and scalability—it's about delivering both. 3) Time to Level Up Security 🖼️ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GiUBdivXUAYjKVm.jpg (Time to Level Up Security) Most activity still runs on basic security systems (like having a few people hold the keys). That needs to change. The plan? Either use multiple security systems for backup or build security directly into Ethereum's core. These are not simple tasks, but we can and should work on both! 4) Native Interoperability is Key We need crosschain to feel like "onechain". This means two things: users shouldn't have to trust anything but the L2s themselves, and once we achieve that trust property, interactions between L2s must be fast and simple. L2 native bridges already achieve the trust property we want, but they're slow and limited to L1-L2 connections. This breaks the "onechain" feeling. The path forward here combines multiple innovations– faster zk-EVM provers and proof aggregation speed up deposits, chain-specific addresses work across L2s, and standardized systems that verify proofs and pass messages between chains. Intents fit nicely into these improvements, setting us on the path to delivering that seamless "onechain" experience today. Learn more about Intents (https://across.to/blog/ERC-7683-Building-a-Borderless-Ethereum) 5) Rethinking Crosschain Experiences When the native interoperability vision becomes a reality, what will it mean for users? Using different L2s should feel like moving between neighborhoods in the same city. This means: This means: One address working everywhere Transactions taking seconds, not minutes, and definitely, not weeks Standardized bridges (no more trusting random third parties) Messages passing smoothly between chains 6) More Blobs, More Speed Here's where it gets interesting. Current capacity will double by March, with Pectra introducing six blobs per slot. But that's just the beginning. New technologies like PeerDAS and 2D sampling will keep pushing the boundaries, dramatically increasing Ethereum's throughput. 7) The Race to 100k TPS 🖼️ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GiUBztNXUAgSaVL.jpg (The Race to 100k TPS) The end goal? Scaling Ethereum to handle 100,000 transactions per second. That's about 50x more than the current capacity and should be enough to support millions of daily users 8) The Ticker is ETH 🖼️ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GiUB9wTXUAIDcWK.jpg (The Ticker is ETH) Here's how ETH stays valuable in a multichain L2 world: L2s using ETH as their main collateral L2s burning or staking a portion of their fees in ETH New revenue from blob fees (potentially burning 713,000 ETH yearly at scale) Capturing MEV value through "based rollups" Don't bet against the future of ETH - it's the foundation of this scaling revolution. 9) Unity Through Diversity Different L2s should be free to experiment – some copying Ethereum exactly, others trying new things. But, like how your phone works on any cellular network, basic standards must ensure everything connects smoothly. This diversity isn't a bug; it's a feature allowing innovation while maintaining interoperability. 10) Beyond Code: Ethereum Is Social Technology Ethereum isn't just code – it's a new way of working together. Instead of one central team making all decisions, dozens of independent teams contribute innovations. As one philosopher noted, it's "a glimpse of what an alternative world could look like" – one where power comes from building useful things, not amassing power or going on ego trips. Bottom line Ethereum's 2025 isn’t just about more technical upgrades – it's about building an ecosystem that can serve billions while staying true to its decentralized roots. Whether you're a developer, trader, or everyday user, these changes aim to make Ethereum more accessible while keeping what makes it special – being open, secure, and truly decentralized. Want to dive deeper? Check out Vitalik's full essay (https://vitalik.eth.limo/general/2025/01/23/l1l2future.html).