TLDR
- Vitalik Buterin believes Ethereum has finally achieved the vision he set out more than a decade ago.
- The transition to proof-of-stake has resolved long-standing issues related to energy consumption and transaction costs.
- Ethereum has moved away from relying solely on the base layer and now supports scaling solutions through layer-two networks.
- Early ambitions for Ethereum included creating a decentralized alternative to the internet, which is now coming to fruition.
- External developers have played a key role in building solutions like layer-two networks and the Waku messaging network.
Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, recently shared his reflections on the network’s progress, stating that it has finally fulfilled the vision he laid out over a decade ago. In a recent post, Buterin discussed how Ethereum’s current state aligns closely with its early ambitions. He highlighted key milestones, such as the transition to proof-of-stake, which addressed concerns about energy consumption and transaction fees.
Ethereum’s Transition to Proof-of-Stake
Vitalik Buterin considers Ethereum’s move to proof-of-stake as one of the most defining milestones in the network’s history. According to him, the transition has successfully solved issues related to energy usage and high transaction costs, which had been long-standing concerns. Buterin emphasizes that this shift was critical in bringing Ethereum closer to its original goals.
Furthermore, Ethereum has moved away from the idea of performing all activities on the base layer. Instead, it has embraced scaling solutions, including layer-two networks, which are now handling increasing demand. This shift allows Ethereum to support a broader ecosystem without overwhelming its main chain, thus keeping the network more efficient and adaptable.
When Ethereum was first introduced in 2014, its goals extended far beyond simple payment processing. Vitalik Buterin envisioned a decentralized alternative to the internet, where systems for finance, social networks, governance, and other digital services could exist without centralized control. Initially, however, Ethereum’s main chain became congested with too many applications, raising fees and putting pressure on storage.
In 2014, there was a vision: you can have permissionless, decentralized applications that could support finance, social media, ride sharing, governing organizations, crowdfunding, potentially create an entire alternative web, all on the backs of a suite of technologies.… pic.twitter.com/ihU9qOrXfG
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 14, 2026
Buterin notes that the original vision was not realized through constant changes to the base layer, but through the development of parallel solutions within the ecosystem. While Ethereum focused on the proof-of-stake transition, external developers played a crucial role in building the missing pieces. Layer-two networks, zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines, and other scaling solutions have now fulfilled key aspects of the original blueprint, making the decentralized web a functional reality.
The Role of Layer-Two Networks and Decentralized Infrastructure
As Ethereum continues to evolve, its ecosystem has expanded with new tools to support decentralized operations. For example, the Waku network has emerged as a successor to Whisper, handling messaging in a decentralized way. Similarly, the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) has become central to Ethereum’s decentralized storage solutions, even though challenges around permanent archiving persist.
Ethereum’s design, which prioritizes privacy and decentralization, has remained intact throughout this evolution. Tools like the Railgun mixer enhance privacy, ensuring Ethereum retains its pseudonymous nature, despite regulatory pressures. As Vitalik Buterin notes, Ethereum’s ecosystem is now better equipped to support a decentralized web that operates on its foundational principles.
Ethereum’s infrastructure for Web3 is now functional and continues to improve every year. The network remains highly active, supporting decentralized finance, stablecoins, and on-chain trading. Vitalik Buterin’s reflections confirm that Ethereum has not only realized its early promises but is now on a path of steady progress.
