Vitalik Buterin Outlines Plan to Scale Ethereum Layer 1 By 10X Within One Year

Ethereum will scale its layer 1 by 10X in one year to boost capacity without losing decentralization.

The plan includes stateless nodes and EVM upgrades to support more users and keep the network secure.

SharpLink Gaming plans a $2B Ethereum investment showing growing trust from large players despite market dips.

Vitalik Buterin has confirmed that Ethereum will scale its layer 1 network by 10 times within the next year. At ETHGlobal Prague, he spoke about what lies ahead for the short-term development of ZK-Rollups

The design aims to boost Ethereum’s performance without sacrificing its decentralized nature. Developers expect the upgrade to strengthen the network without affecting its core properties.

Gradual Roadmap Focuses on Core Improvements

The main idea is to build stateless nodes and make improvements to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). With these updates, the network will handle greater traffic and remain decentralized. In addition, they will improve transaction speeds and reduce resource requirements. Buterin noted that taking more time for development helps avoid errors and ensures careful execution.

The scaling timeline will extend slightly beyond one year. This approach allows the development team to monitor performance and adjust as needed. It also gives time to evaluate decentralization metrics throughout the process. Developers want to ensure that scalability does not lead to centralization or security issues.

Community Response Highlights Scaling Debate

Buterin’s announcement has sparked mixed reactions from the Ethereum community. Some experts argue that Ethereum must scale by 100 times in five years

They believe that demand will exceed the network’s current capacity if changes are too slow. However, Buterin supports a balanced approach that avoids weakening the protocol’s decentralization.

Ethereum’s poor performance in early 2025 has added urgency to these discussions. ETH prices declined, and on-chain activity dropped during the first quarter. As a result, the pressure to improve network speed and efficiency has grown. Developers and researchers are now actively debating the best path forward.

Institutional Interest Signals Confidence

Despite market setbacks, institutional players are showing renewed interest. Reports suggest SharpLink Gaming is preparing a $2 billion Ethereum investment through BTSC and ETF vehicles.

This move shows growing confidence in Ethereum’s long-term outlook. It also highlights the importance of scaling as a step toward mainstream adoption.

Ethereum’s development team remains focused on secure and deliberate progress. By improving scalability without compromising decentralization, they hope to support broader adoption. The 10X plan reflects a shift toward responsible growth and continued innovation within the Ethereum ecosystem.