Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin detailed the modernization phase of the Ethereum roadmap, known as The Splurge, focusing on improvements to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This discussion was part of the sixth installment of his essay, “The Possible Future of the Ethereum Protocol.”

Possible futures of the Ethereum protocol, part 6: The Splurgehttps://t.co/OabLldVCqj
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) October 29, 2024

Key Challenges with the Current EVM

“Currently, the EVM is difficult to statically analyze, complicating the creation of highly efficient implementations, formal code verification, and the addition of new features over time. The mechanism is also inefficient, limiting the application of complex cryptography unless precompiled support is available,” Buterin explained.

To address these issues, the roadmap includes the introduction of the EVM Object Format (EOF), a set of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) that will define a new version of the virtual machine with the following enhancements:

Separation of data and code.
Restriction of dynamic jumps, retaining only static ones.
Removal of gas-related controls in the code.
Addition of a subroutine mechanism.

EOF is expected to simplify future updates and will be implemented in the next hard fork, named Pectra, Buterin added.

Account Abstraction and Expanded Functionality

Another critical focus of The Splurge is the full implementation of account abstraction.

Account abstraction will enable transaction validation using methods beyond ECDSA signatures, allowing any EVM-compatible cryptographic techniques. Users will be able to initiate operations through both externally owned accounts (EOAs) and smart contracts, enhancing functionality and security. The anticipated benefits include:

Transition to quantum-resistant cryptography.
Creation of multisignature wallets and social recovery mechanisms.
Segmentation of keys for different transaction types.
More anonymous operation of privacy protocols without relays.

Multidimensional Gas and Long-Term Innovations

The Splurge also includes enhancements to network throughput via the “multidimensional gas” mechanism. This upgrade to EIP-1559 will establish different prices and limits for specific computational resources.

In the longer term, the Ethereum team plans to explore code obfuscation using ZK-SNARKs, homomorphic encryption, and one-time quantum signatures. Buterin believes these solutions could protect the blockchain from 51% attacks.

“If such primitives become efficient enough, most applications could be fully decentralized. Ensuring implementation correctness will remain the primary challenge,” he stated.

Previous Roadmap Contributions

Previously, Buterin discussed strategies for reducing data storage requirements and simplifying blockchain structure, aligning with earlier phases of the Ethereum roadmap.