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
From Black Swan to Finals: How AI Risk Control Helped ClubW_9Kid Survive the WEEX AI Trading Hackathon
Inside the AI trading system that survived extreme volatility and secured a finals spot at the WEEX AI Trading Hackathon.

How to View the Neobank Era Post Crypto Boom?

《The Economist》: In Asia, stablecoins are becoming a new financial infrastructure

Why Most Cryptocurrencies Are Designed to Be Non-Reinvestment Assets

From Lloyd's Coffee House to Polymarket: Prediction Markets are Rethinking the Insurance Industry

a16z Partner Manifesto: Boutique VC is Dead, Go Big or Go Home

Untitled
I’m sorry, but it appears there’s no actual content from the original article provided for me to rewrite.…

Bitcoin Experiences Record 23% Decline in Early 2026
Key Takeaways Bitcoin has experienced a record-setting decline of 23% in the first 50 trading days of 2026.…

Whale Holding 105,000 ETH Faces $8.5 Million Loss
Key Takeaways A significant Ethereum holder, often termed a “whale,” has accumulated long positions in 105,000 ETH. The…

Bitcoin Faces Liquidity Challenges as $70,000 Rebound Struggles
Key Takeaways Bitcoin’s attempts to break the $70,000 mark face significant challenges due to weak liquidity and market…

Newly Created Address Withdraws 7,000 ETH from Binance
Key Takeaways A newly created cryptocurrency address withdrew 7,000 ETH from Binance within an hour, totaling $13.55 million.…

Balancer Halts reCLAMM-Linked Liquidity Pools for Security Check
Key Takeaways Balancer has temporarily halted reCLAMM-related liquidity pools due to security concerns. A report from the bug…

Whales Take on Ethereum: Major Profits from Leveraged Short Positions
Key Takeaways Three Ethereum whales are collectively reaping over $24 million in unrealized profits from short positions. The…

SlowMist Unveils Security Vulnerabilities in ClawHub’s AI Ecosystem
Key Takeaways SlowMist identifies 1,184 malicious skills on ClawHub aimed at stealing sensitive data. The identified threats include…

Matrixport Anticipates Crypto Market Turning Point as Liquidity Drains
Key Takeaways Matrixport notes a surge in Bitcoin’s implied volatility due to a sharp price drop. Bitcoin price…

Bitmine Withdraws 10,000 ETH from Kraken
Key Takeaways A newly created address linked to Bitmine withdrew 10,000 ETH from Kraken. The withdrawal value amounts…

In the face of the Quantum Threat, Bitcoin Core developers have chosen to ignore it

Don't Just Focus on Trading Volume: A Guide to Understanding the "Fake Real Volume" of Perpetual Contracts
From Black Swan to Finals: How AI Risk Control Helped ClubW_9Kid Survive the WEEX AI Trading Hackathon
Inside the AI trading system that survived extreme volatility and secured a finals spot at the WEEX AI Trading Hackathon.