Vitalik Buterin Outlines Plan for Cypherpunk-Oriented Ethereum Extension Layer With Tight Integration

Vitalik Buterin said on X on Feb. 21 that he is developing a roadmap to build an extension layer on Ethereum that he describes as a "cypherpunk-principled, non-ugly Ethereum" with close integration and strong interoperability with existing infrastructure, PANews reports. He explained the extension would evolve step by step while helping the base protocol gain key system-level cypherpunk and simplicity properties, including censorship resistance, ZK-prover friendliness, and consensus layer changes. Buterin added that over the next five years, or possibly earlier with faster AI coding and formal verification, a clear path could open for existing systems to migrate to smart contracts written in the new framework's language when required. Ethereum has already executed major mid-flight changes such as "The Merge" and still has capacity for around four more system-level upgrades of similar scope, including state tree optimizations, lean consensus, ZK-EVM verification, and virtual machine layer modifications.