Vitalik Buterin Says Ethereum Backslided and Plans Fixes By 2026

TLDR

• Buterin admits Ethereum’s decentralization weakened due to focus on scalability.
• Ethereum’s 2026 roadmap promotes full node use on consumer hardware.
• ZK-EVMs and Helios aim to reduce trust in centralized RPC providers.
• New privacy tools like ORAM and PIR will protect user data access patterns.

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has acknowledged that the blockchain has “backslided” over the past 10 years. In a new 2026 roadmap, he revealed plans to restore Ethereum’s core values of decentralization and user self-sovereignty, which were weakened by efforts to improve scalability.

Decade of Centralization Concerns

Vitalik Buterin has said Ethereum moved away from its decentralization goals over the last ten years. In a January 16, 2026 announcement, he stated that scalability took priority at the cost of self-sovereignty and local trust.

“The current ecosystem forces users to rely on trusted servers and RPCs,” said Buterin. This means users depend on centralized services to interact with Ethereum’s blockchain rather than verifying data themselves.

He noted that this reliance undermines the original cypherpunk ideals that shaped Ethereum’s early development. The 2026 roadmap was introduced to help restore these principles and restructure how users access the network.

New Technologies to Strengthen Local Verification

The roadmap introduces Helios and Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (ZK-EVMs). These tools will allow users to run full nodes on regular devices.

By doing this, Ethereum aims to eliminate dependency on centralized infrastructure like Infura or Alchemy. These services currently act as intermediaries between users and the blockchain.

The tools will use Bridges and Local Verification (BAL), letting users verify transactions without third-party data providers. This shift will bring blockchain verification closer to the end user.

Buterin said, “It will be a long road,” referring to the gradual rollout of these technologies. He confirmed not all changes will be included in the next few upgrades.

Enhancing Privacy for Users

Ethereum’s new plan includes tools to improve user privacy and protect access patterns. These include Oblivious RAM (ORAM) and Private Information Retrieval (PIR).

These technologies allow users to request data from the blockchain without revealing which data they are accessing. This change stops RPC providers from tracking user behavior or selling it to advertisers.

The privacy upgrades are part of a broader effort to keep user activity private. Buterin said Ethereum must prevent situations where “user data is sold to third parties” through wallet and RPC connections.

This focus on privacy could challenge existing blockchain data providers who rely on analytics. However, Ethereum developers aim to ensure user protection remains a key network feature.

Security and UI Strengthening Initiatives

Ethereum will also improve user security by using decentralized tools for wallet recovery. The network will standardize the use of social recovery wallets and time locks to reduce reliance on centralized platforms.

This will allow users to recover funds without relying on cloud-based systems or tech companies that could be vulnerable to data breaches. Buterin emphasized the risks of giving too much control to custodians or cloud backups.

To make the user interface more secure, Ethereum will use decentralized storage protocols like IPFS. This method protects user access from being blocked or hijacked through centralized front ends.

These updates are designed to secure Ethereum’s network from interface attacks and improve trust at every layer of the system.

Long-Term Structural Reforms Ahead

Vitalik Buterin clarified that Ethereum’s path forward will require several updates over the coming years. He noted that the changes will not arrive in the upcoming “Kohaku” release or the next few hard forks.

However, the 2026 roadmap lays the foundation for a new way of verifying, interacting with, and protecting the blockchain. “It will make Ethereum into an ecosystem that deserves not only its current place… but a much greater one,” said Buterin.

These upgrades aim to ensure Ethereum remains aligned with the values it was built on, while supporting a decentralized and secure future.

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