Ethereum founder Vitalik recently announced in a public post that the world's second-largest public chain has successfully overcome the long-standing "trilemma" problem in the blockchain space. This breakthrough is a direct result of over a decade of research and development.

What is the blockchain trilemma? In simple terms, traditional P2P networks face a classic trade-off. Systems like BitTorrent feature high bandwidth and high decentralization but lack a consensus mechanism. Bitcoin, on the other hand, achieves high decentralization and consensus but is limited by the requirement for each node to fully replicate all data, severely restricting bandwidth and transaction throughput. This is the so-called dilemma of achieving security, decentralization, and scalability simultaneously.

How did Ethereum break through? The key lies in the combination of two core technologies. First is PeerDAS (Peer-to-Peer Data Availability Sampling), which was already launched on the mainnet during the Fusaka upgrade in 2025. Second is ZK-EVMs (Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines), which currently perform at a production level and are expected to run on some network nodes starting in 2026.

Vitalik emphasizes that this is not just theoretical promise on paper. The data availability sampling component of PeerDAS is already operational on the mainnet, where nodes only need to verify a small amount of data to confirm availability—that's what is called "sharded" data availability. The performance of ZK-EVMs has also reached production standards, with further security enhancements underway.

Looking at the development roadmap, the primary goal in 2026 is to significantly increase the gas limit through the BAL and ePBS mechanisms, while also launching ZK-EVM nodes. Between 2026 and 2028, Ethereum will undergo gas re-pricing and state structure adjustments to ensure higher gas limits are secure. During the longer period from 2027 to 2030, ZK-EVMs will gradually become the main verification method, further increasing the gas limit ceiling.

What is the true significance of this series of upgrades? The combination of PeerDAS's sharded data availability and ZK-EVM's zero-knowledge proof capabilities will greatly enhance Layer 2 scalability. The improved performance of Layer 2 will ultimately benefit the entire Layer 1 ecosystem. In other words, Ethereum is evolving from the concept of a "world computer" into a more powerful and decentralized infrastructure.

This is undoubtedly an important milestone in the history of cryptocurrency development. The three goals—security, decentralization, and scalability—that once seemed impossible to achieve simultaneously have now been validated through actual code deployment. In the coming years, we will witness Ethereum truly reaching a scale of explosive adoption.