Ethereum's Last Normal Fork: Hegotá to Pave Way for 'Cryptographic World Computer'

Ethereum's next major network upgrade, Hegotá, is scheduled for 2027 and may be its last 'normal' fork. Vitalik Buterin said that after this, Ethereum will transition toward a more advanced cryptography architecture, which he calls a 'cryptographic world computer'. This new system would rely on recursive STARKs, automated formal verification, more efficient consensus, and quantum-safe cryptography.

The current upgrade cycle is based on recognizable features and technology from 2015. However, Buterin believes that after Hegotá, the network will move away from this model and toward a longer-term program built around proofs, formal verification, and quantum-safe design.

Ethereum researcher Barnabé Monnot said that offchain computation with onchain proofs could reduce network work and enable lighter nodes. However, crypto lawyer Gabriel Shapiro questioned how much demand exists for proof-based systems compared to traditional trust-based models.