Ethereum Foundation Shifts Focus from Poseidon to SHA and BLAKE3
The Ethereum Foundation has shifted its focus away from Poseidon hash function and towards SHA and BLAKE3, two well-established alternatives. This decision comes after a year of evaluating Poseidon as a potential upgrade for base-layer hashing.
Poseidon was initially touted as a way to reduce computational overhead compared to Pedersen hashes in zero-knowledge proof systems. However, advancements in proof generation, hardware acceleration, and circuit design have narrowed the performance gap between algebraic hashes and traditional ones.
The Ethereum Foundation's decision is also driven by the need for compatibility and post-quantum security. Both SHA-256 and BLAKE3 are widely supported across existing tooling, hardware, and software stacks, making them more practical choices.