Vitalik: Ethereum will refocus on autonomy and trustlessness in 2026

According to Mars Finance, Vitalik Buterin posted on social media that 2026 will be a crucial year for Ethereum to regain lost ground in terms of self-sovereignty and trustlessness. The plan includes simplifying node operation through ZK-EVM and BAL technologies, launching Helios to verify RPC data, implementing ORAM and PIR technologies to protect user privacy, developing social recovery wallets and time lock functionality to enhance fund security, and improving the on-chain UI and IPFS applications. Buterin emphasized that Ethereum will correct the compromises made over the past decade in node operation, application decentralization, and data privacy, refocusing on its core values. While this will be a long process, it will make the Ethereum ecosystem stronger.