- Ethereum protocol complexity grows as old features remain and new features are added.
- High complexity weakens trust and makes it hard for users to rebuild clients.
- Ethereum may simplify its code by removing unused features and limiting complex cryptography.
The protocol implemented in Ethereum is becoming more complex with developers continuously adding features without taking away the old ones. According to co-founder Vitalik Buterin, this accumulation of features poses a danger to the fundamental principles of the network. He points out that simplicity is more important to trustlessness and user sovereignty than crude measures of decentralization.
Ethereum codebase currently measures hundreds of thousands of lines and uses several sophisticated cryptographic systems. Although the network is highly decentralized and fault tolerant, this complexity does not allow most of the users to have complete knowledge on how it works. Even highly technical participants have difficulties in verifying or rebuilding clients by themselves, as stated by Buterin.
Risks to Trust and Self-Sovereignty
Protocol complexity undermines Ethereum in three main ways. First, users increasingly depend on experts to interpret protocol behavior. Second, the “walkaway test” fails, making it difficult to rebuild clients if current teams leave. Third, self-sovereignty is undermined since even the skilled users cannot audit or reason about the system with a high degree of confidence.
The issue lies in the emphasis on backward compatibility. Most upgrades focus on not disrupting the existing clients, which creates an incentive to add features other than removing the features. In the long run, this method results in a more cumbersome, large-sized protocol that is more difficult to maintain and comprehend.
Call for Simplification
Buterin proposed introducing an explicit “simplification” or “garbage collection” process within Ethereum’s development cycle. This approach aims to reduce code lines, limit reliance on complex cryptography, and enforce predictable invariants for client behavior.
Past Ethereum upgrades demonstrate effective simplification. The transition from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake removed significant protocol inefficiencies. Recent gas cost reforms replace arbitrary rules with clear, resource-linked calculations. Last year, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and researcher Toni Wahrstätter introduced EIP-7983. Future cleanups could shift rarely used features to smart contracts, easing the load on core clients and improving overall maintainability.
Industry Debate on Continuous Development
The simplification proposal of Ethereum is in opposition to the opinions of Solana Labs CEO, Anatoly Yakovenko. He claims that blockchains will have to keep on improving to fulfill the needs of developers and users. Yakavenko is convinced that the absence of constant improvements can make a platform obsolete, even without a single group that opposes changes. The discussion highlights a broader industry debate between maintaining simplicity and pursuing constant feature innovation.
Ethereum now faces critical choices. Developers must weigh ongoing complexity against trust, user independence, and long-term sustainability. How the network balances these priorities will shape its future in the competitive blockchain landscape.
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