Vitalik Buterin Says Ethereum Still Has Work to Do Despite 2025 Gains

Ethereum closed 2025 with several meaningful upgrades that pushed the network closer to its long-term vision. Gas limits increased, allowing more activity per block. Blob counts rose, improving data handling for rollups.

Node software became more stable and efficient, reducing friction for operators. Zero-knowledge EVMs also crossed important performance thresholds, making advanced scaling methods more practical.

Vitalik Buterin described these changes as Ethereum’s largest step yet toward becoming a fundamentally different kind of blockchain. With tools like zkEVMs and PeerDAS coming together, Ethereum is moving beyond incremental upgrades and toward a system that can support applications at a global scale.

Still, he stressed that progress alone is not enough. The network must stay focused on its original purpose rather than chasing short-term trends or popular narratives.

According to Vitalik, Ethereum’s real goal is to function as a world computer. That means infrastructure people can rely on for finance, identity, governance, and other core systems without fear of censorship, fraud, or outside control.

Applications should continue running even if their creators disappear. Users should not feel dependent on large centralized service providers. Privacy must remain a core feature, not an afterthought.

Also Read: Can Ethereum (ETH) Reach $5,000 by January 2026? Three Factors to Watch

Why Usability and Decentralization Still Matter

Though there has been considerable progress in 2025, Vitalik has also emphasized that there is a lot of work to be done in the context of Ethereum as well. The usability of the network has been one of the concerns, especially for new users.

The scalability of the network also needs to advance in order to accommodate a large amount of adoption without hampering its security features. Decentralization needs to be promoted at both the blockchain and the app level.

Specifically, he emphasized the importance of “better software, simpler tools, and more involvement” on both sides of the current problem.

Operating a node, using decentralized apps, and developing on Ethereum ought to become second nature and less about the technology and risk involved. A stable system that works well regardless of the changes in the world of politics, the failure of corporations, and external threats is the goal here.

Ethereum Price Structure Shows Early Signs of a Shift

Although the long-term development is ongoing, some signs are emerging that Ethereum has reached an important technical point as well. Ethereum is trading close to $2,997.67 while maintaining a level above the demand area between $2,700 and $2,900.

Analyst Javon Marks highlighted that Ethereum’s MACD has delivered yet another bullish crossover on a higher-timeframe chart. Historically, such a crossover occurred in the past when ETH traded close to $1,550, before a substantial rise of over 200% to the $4,900 area.

Source: X

The current formation occurred at a higher level of $2,900, with upside targets of $4,811 and, if the pace is sustained, $8,557. In structure, ETH is attempting to create a higher low while in the midst of a correction.

Also Read: Ethereum Lags Behind Bitcoin as Past Cycle Pattern Repeats in 2025