Buterin reveals the next step in Ethereum’s development, aiming for 100,000 transactions per second (TPS) for both Ethereum mainnet and L2s

In 2023, Ethereum's rollup-centric roadmap, which aims to enhance scalability while preserving decentralization and security, made significant progress. Initially, Ethereum had two primary scaling strategies: sharding and Layer 2 (L2) protocols, including rollups. Over time, these approaches converged, resulting in a rollup-centric strategy that now forms the core of Ethereum’s scaling efforts.

The roadmap divides responsibilities: Ethereum's Layer 1 (L1) focuses on being a decentralized, secure base layer, while L2 protocols handle scaling by offloading computation and data. L2s are gaining momentum, with notable improvements in Ethereum’s data bandwidth through EIP-4844 blobs, increasing Ethereum's scalability.

On October 17, 2024, Buterin outlined ambitious goals for Ethereum's next phase,"The Surge" in a blog post topic “Possible futures for the Ethereum protocol, part 2: The Surge”.

The key objectives include achieving over 100,000 transactions per second (TPS) across Ethereum's mainnet and layer-2 blockchains, as well as enhancing interoperability between these layer-2. Buterin envisions Ethereum as a unified ecosystem rather than a collection of separate chains.

Improving the user experience on Ethereum’s L2 networks is another priority. Buterin emphasized the need for seamless communication between L2s to simplify token transfers and reduce the need for complex bridging solutions. This would make using L2s feel more integrated within the Ethereum ecosystem.

The Surge roadmap builds on the success of Ethereum's rollup-centric approach, particularly following the Dencun upgrade in March, which introduced features like "blobs" for cheaper data storage and reduced fees on L2 networks. Despite these advancements, Buterin acknowledged the challenges that have arisen, such as concerns about security and interoperability.

Critics have raised concerns about the potential for L2s to divert users and revenue from Ethereum’s mainnet, introducing new risks and causing inflationary pressures on its native token, Ether (ETH). However, Buterin remains focused on making L2s "trustless" like Ethereum’s L1, ensuring that these networks inherit Ethereum’s security properties while enabling more efficient scaling.

Buterin also stressed the need for Ethereum's base layer to scale alongside L2s, warning of risks if L1 cannot handle increasing demand. While increasing the gas limit is a simple solution, Buterin noted that it could lead to centralization. Instead, he proposed reducing the cost of specific operations, improving gas efficiency, and introducing new features to maintain decentralization.

Key goals for Ethereum's Surge phase include achieving 100,000+ transactions per second (TPS) across L1 and L2 while maintaining decentralization. Challenges like the scalability trilemma—balancing decentralization, scalability, and security—are being addressed through innovations like data availability sampling and advancements in proof systems. Rollup technologies continue to evolve, with Ethereum pushing to further increase TPS and cross-L2 interoperability, ensuring Ethereum feels like one ecosystem.

Buterin’s vision remains focused on completing the rollup-centric roadmap while maintaining the network's robustness and decentralization.