Buterin: Blockchain Complexity Calls for New Cryptographic Tech

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin believes that the growing complexity of the blockchain ecosystem requires new cryptographic technology to support privacy, scalability, and security.

According to a recent report by Wu Blockchain, Buterin stated at a blockchain summit in Shanghai that blockchain is evolving beyond its original function as a simple standalone ledger. It's now becoming a broad cryptographic network spanning multiple layers, including Layer 1 and Layer 2, mempools, off-chain computation, and collaborative block production.

Buterin noted that advances in powerful data analytics and artificial intelligence are making the limitations of early public blockchains' privacy model increasingly clear. As a result, new technologies such as SNARKs, STARKs, fully homomorphic encryption (FHE), and formal verification are becoming core components for achieving privacy, scalability, and security.

Buterin also mentioned that zero-knowledge technology is taking shape in actual Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) and that AI is helping speed up the development and verification of complex cryptographic systems.