Ethereum Foundation to Mandate 128-bit Encryption for zkEVM Systems in 2026

The Ethereum Foundation said on Dec. 21 it will shift focus from throughput to security in 2026 and require zkEVM systems to meet at least 128-bit cryptographic security. The foundation noted zkEVM projects achieved notable performance gains over the past year, but some designs rely on unvetted mathematical assumptions that could theoretically enable on-chain state forgery. The next phase will emphasize formal verification, attack resistance and cryptographic robustness, with the foundation providing security review tools and requiring zkEVMs to reach the 128-bit level recognized by mainstream cryptography. The foundation acknowledged the new standard may slow some scaling initiatives but stressed that strong attack resistance and trustworthiness are key prerequisites for attracting institutional users and high-value applications.