Vitalik Buterin Calls for Simpler Ethereum Code to Secure Decentralization

TLDR

• Buterin says Ethereum needs fewer features and simpler code to remain decentralized.
• A “garbage collection” process is needed to remove outdated protocol components.
• Ethereum’s switch to Proof-of-Stake is a model for future simplification steps.
• Complex systems risk failing the walkaway test, says Vitalik Buterin.

Vitalik Buterin has called on Ethereum developers to simplify the network’s protocol to preserve decentralization and self-sovereignty. In a detailed post, he warned that growing complexity threatens Ethereum’s long-term resilience and may shift power to a small group of technical experts.

He explained that without a simpler design, Ethereum risks failing the “walkaway test”, the idea that the network should function even if its original builders step away. Buterin argued that the long-term sustainability of Ethereum depends on reducing technical complexity and maintaining trustless access for all.

Complexity Risks Ethereum’s Core Values

Buterin noted that even highly decentralized networks can fail key benchmarks like trustlessness and self-sovereignty if their code is too complex. He explained that complex systems require users to rely on a small group of experts to verify protocol behavior.

He wrote, “It’s not self-sovereign because if even the most technical people can’t inspect and understand the thing, it’s not fully yours.” He also warned that a bloated protocol makes it difficult for new development teams to maintain or improve the network.

Three Metrics to Guide Simplification

To support Ethereum’s long-term health, Buterin proposed three metrics for evaluating protocol design. The first is reducing total lines of code to make the system easier to maintain. The second is limiting dependency on advanced cryptography such as lattices or isogenies. The third is adding invariants, rules that simplify how the protocol behaves.

He cited EIP-6780 and EIP-7825 as examples that reduced code complexity by introducing technical limits that make client development easier. He also described the shift from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake as a “large-scale garbage collection” that removed inefficient legacy features.

Warning Against Excessive Feature Additions

Buterin expressed concern about the habit of adding too many features for niche use cases. He explained that each addition, while useful in isolation, can bloat the base protocol and increase long-term risk. “One of my fears with Ethereum protocol development is that we can be too eager to add new features,” he wrote. 

He urged a slower approach to changes and encouraged removing or isolating little-used components from the core system. He proposed that outdated features could be moved into smart contracts, allowing newer clients to operate without processing legacy code.

Moving Toward a More Sustainable Ethereum

As part of the roadmap, Buterin suggested switching from the EVM to a simpler virtual machine like RISC-V. He also recommended that older versions of Ethereum be run in separate containers, so new clients only support streamlined versions of the protocol.

He compared Ethereum’s development to the evolution of SpaceX rockets, where newer designs become more efficient over time. “An ideal protocol fits onto a single page, or at least a few pages,” Buterin stated.

He concluded by stating that Ethereum should move away from its “adolescence stage” of rapid experimentation. By focusing on simplicity, Buterin believes the network can remain decentralized and trustworthy for decades to come.

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