Vitalik Buterin, one of the founders of Ethereum, pointed out that abandoning the Poseidon hash function during the development of the network could cause serious losses in proof efficiency. This assessment was made as Ethereum developers considered options to replace the current state tree with a binary tree architecture to increase scalability and better integrate zero-knowledge proofs.
Increased efficiency in the proving process with Poseidon
Vitalik Buterin stated that there is a significant acceleration in the proof processes when using Poseidon compared to traditional hash solutions. It was emphasized that this performance improvement was especially critical at two points: first, hash-based signature aggregation, and second, the ability to quickly produce proofs of state in blocks.
In the statement, a model was proposed in which block creators can quickly prepare state proofs in their local environments and transfer blocks and related proofs to high-capacity external proofers. Thus, large-scale computing infrastructures can contribute to the Ethereum network in minutes. It is stated that this approach provides a flexible backup opportunity without the need to download the full state.
Security expectations and alternatives
Buterin suggested that research on Poseidon’s safety be continued intensively. At the same time, he stated that he supports studies to increase the efficiency of alternative hash functions such as Blake through cryptographic developments. In his statement on the X platform, the following opinions were included:
BLAKE stands out as a powerful and effective option. However, it would be a shame to lose the efficiency difference that Poseidon brings. This advantage plays a decisive role, especially in signature aggregation and rapid proof of status production.
In particular, it was stated that studies on new methods that will improve the efficiency of alternative hash functions should be encouraged. Thus, performance gaps are tried to be closed before current and possible future architectural choices.
Philosophical transformation and road map in network structure
Another user drew attention to the transition from the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to RISC-V based design and argued that this transformation is not only a technical improvement, but also a philosophical simplification in the verification layer of the network. It was also claimed that teams in the field of crypto and artificial intelligence have not yet fully predicted the impact of this change on proofing costs in 2026.
Buterin also referred to the “Strawman” road map shaped by the Ethereum Foundation and stated that block creation and finalization times are expected to gradually shorten thanks to the upgrades to be made in the network. Such advancements stand out as one of the key topics in Ethereum’s long-term roadmap.
