- Buy Crypto
- Markets
Futures- Spot
- Copy Trade
- Earn
- More
2026 to Mark Ethereum ZK Rollup Inflection Point: Proof of Stake Sees 'Merge-like' Overhaul
BlockBeats News, December 26: Researchers and developers expect that 2026 will be a key year for Ethereum to achieve exponential scalability through zero-knowledge proofs (ZK). By then, some Ethereum validators will no longer re-execute transactions but will directly validate ZK proofs, fundamentally changing the way the blockchain operates, with scalability comparable to the Ethereum "merge" from PoW to PoS in 2022.
Ethereum researcher Justin Drake stated that the initial validators will start validating the ZK proofs of each block instead of re-executing all transactions, bringing instant scalability to Layer 1 and laying the foundation for a future 10,000 TPS. The current Ethereum mainnet throughput is about 30 TPS.
During Devconnet, Drake demonstrated that ZK proof validation can be done using an old laptop. It is expected that by the end of 2026, approximately 10% of validators will switch to ZK validation mode (Lean Execution Phase 1). This shift will significantly reduce the hardware requirements for validator nodes while maintaining network decentralization.
Ethereum Besu client engineer Gary Schulte pointed out that future computationally intensive work will be mainly handled by block builders and ZK provers, while regular validators will only need to perform lightweight verification, creating conditions for increasing the gas limit and overall throughput.
On the roadmap, Ethereum is currently in Phase 0 (voluntary validation), expected to enter Phase 1 (partial validator switch) in 2026, and move to Phase 2 in 2027, which will require block producers to generate ZK proofs, achieving full ZK rollup execution.
You may also like
President Trump Asserts Imminent Passing of Crypto Market Structure Bill
Key Takeaways Presidential Confirmation: President Trump states the major crypto market structure bill is on the verge of…
Germany Central Bank Head Advocates for European Crypto Stablecoins Under EU MiCA Framework
Key Takeaways Joachim Nagel, head of the Germany Bundesbank, is advocating for the adoption of euro-based crypto stablecoins…
Polygon Surpasses Ethereum in Daily Fees as Polymarket Bets Rocket
Key Takeaways Polygon has outpaced Ethereum in daily transaction fees, a historic shift driven by activity on Polymarket.…
Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Short Squeeze Alert – Is a Significant Rebound on the Horizon?
Key Takeaways Recent data indicates Bitcoin shorts have escalated to unprecedented levels reminiscent of a major market low…
Google’s Gemini AI Predicts the Price of XRP, Solana, and Bitcoin by the End of 2026
Key Takeaways XRP’s Potential: Google’s Gemini AI forecasts XRP could reach $10 by 2026, leveraging Ripple’s payment solutions…
Top Analyst Warns Bitcoin Price Could Plummet to $10,000 Amid Deepening Bear Market
Key Takeaways Bitcoin’s value could potentially drop to $10,000 as part of an imploding bubble, suggests a renowned…
Best Crypto to Buy Now February 10 – XRP, Solana, Dogecoin
Key Takeaways XRP is poised for long-term growth with its recent strategic expansions in institutional-grade payments and tokenization.…
Kyle Samani Criticizes Hyperliquid in Explosive Post-Departure Market Commentary
Key Takeaways: Kyle Samani, after leaving Multicoin Capital, criticized Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange, labeling it as a systemic…
XRP Price Prediction: A 50M Token Sell-Off Just Shook the Market — Is More Loss Imminent?
Key Takeaways Over 50 million XRP hit the market within a span of less than 12 hours, leading…
Strategy Plans to Equitize Convertible Debt Over 3–6 Years: What It Means for BTC
Key Takeaways Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, is equitizing $6 billion in convertible debt as a long-term strategy…
BlockFills Freezes Withdrawals as Bitcoin Declines, Heightening Counterparty Risk Concerns
Key Takeaways BlockFills, an institutional trading firm, has stopped client withdrawals amid rising market volatility and Bitcoin price…
Leading AI Claude Predicts the Price of XRP, Cardano, and Ethereum by the End of 2026
Key Takeaways Claude AI projects substantial growth for XRP, Cardano, and Ethereum by the end of 2026, with…
Crypto Price Forecast for 16 February – XRP, Ethereum, Cardano
Key Takeaways Technical trends and recent developments suggest potential growth for XRP, Ethereum, and Cardano. XRP is targeting…
Bitcoin Price Prediction: Alarming New Research Warns Millions in BTC at Risk of ‘Quantum Freeze’ – Are You Protected?
Key Takeaways Recent market movements have sparked concerns over a potential bear market for Bitcoin, marked by significant…
XRP Price Forecast: Can XRP Truly Surpass Bitcoin and Ethereum? Analyst Argues the Contest Has Already Begun
Key Takeaways XRP has maintained significant support around the $1.40 level despite a 12% decline over the past…
Best Crypto to Purchase Now February 6 – XRP, Solana, Bitcoin
Key Takeaways XRP’s Strength: Ripple’s focus on challenging traditional systems like SWIFT is driving XRP towards a potential…
South Korea Intensifies Crypto Market Investigations Following Bithumb Incident
Key Takeaways A $44 billion mishap at Bithumb has prompted South Korean authorities to step up their scrutiny…
BTC Traders Eye $50K as Possible Bottom: Key Metrics to Watch This Week
Key Takeaways Bitcoin’s price fluctuations lead traders to eye $50,000 as a critical bottom. Despite a recent rally…
President Trump Asserts Imminent Passing of Crypto Market Structure Bill
Key Takeaways Presidential Confirmation: President Trump states the major crypto market structure bill is on the verge of…
Germany Central Bank Head Advocates for European Crypto Stablecoins Under EU MiCA Framework
Key Takeaways Joachim Nagel, head of the Germany Bundesbank, is advocating for the adoption of euro-based crypto stablecoins…
Polygon Surpasses Ethereum in Daily Fees as Polymarket Bets Rocket
Key Takeaways Polygon has outpaced Ethereum in daily transaction fees, a historic shift driven by activity on Polymarket.…
Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Short Squeeze Alert – Is a Significant Rebound on the Horizon?
Key Takeaways Recent data indicates Bitcoin shorts have escalated to unprecedented levels reminiscent of a major market low…
Google’s Gemini AI Predicts the Price of XRP, Solana, and Bitcoin by the End of 2026
Key Takeaways XRP’s Potential: Google’s Gemini AI forecasts XRP could reach $10 by 2026, leveraging Ripple’s payment solutions…
Top Analyst Warns Bitcoin Price Could Plummet to $10,000 Amid Deepening Bear Market
Key Takeaways Bitcoin’s value could potentially drop to $10,000 as part of an imploding bubble, suggests a renowned…
App