According to Buterin, Lean Ethereum represents a long term restructuring effort rather than a single upgrade. The roadmap includes a redesigned data storage architecture with a lower cost storage layer for simpler applications. This approach could reduce transaction costs for certain tokens by more than tenfold, while the new storage layer is expected to support up to 50 times more data than the current system by 2030.
A new architectural phase for Ethereum
Quantum resistance and privacy are also becoming core priorities under the new roadmap. Buterin said Ethereum's critical infrastructure will be strengthened against future quantum computing risks, with work already underway to make temporary data storage used by Layer 2 networks quantum secure. He also emphasized that privacy will be integrated into the protocol's core design rather than treated as an optional feature.
In the longer term, Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) could gradually be replaced by more efficient technologies such as RISC-V. The transition is intended to improve scalability while maintaining compatibility with existing applications. Buterin added that the Hegota upgrade, expected in 2026, will serve as one of the final major milestones before Ethereum begins its transition toward its next generation architecture.
