Vitalik Buterin released a major announcement: Ethereum L1 will reach 400 TPS, and running a full Node on mobile is becoming a reality.

Even amidst the turmoil of war in Kyiv, innovation has never ceased. At ETHKyiv 2025, over 100 hackers proved this point—they developed privacy-first dApps, competed for grants, and showcased the miracles that can be created when the world's most severe challenges meet the courage of Web3. But the real shockwaves came from the founders themselves: Vitalik Buterin and Tomasz K. Stańczak, the Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation, both appeared as online speakers for the event and dropped two heavyweight bombs—400 TPS on Ethereum L1 this year, and that in the near future anyone will be able to run a full Node on their smartphones.

1. Next Generation User Experience: Node on Mobile

Vitalik Buterin's keynote speech at the ETHKyiv 2025 conference hit the core roadmap of Ethereum. One of the most important revelations was: "Soon you will be able to launch a Node on your smartphone or even smartwatch."

Buterin stated that users will soon be able to run a full Ethereum node without relying on servers with TB-level storage space and without "consuming a lot of resources." This unprecedented case is made possible by the zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) that the Ethereum Foundation is currently implementing.

zkEVM is significantly alleviating the burden on nodes by reducing storage through transaction verification without revealing or importing any information related to the transactions. On Ethereum's L2 layer, zkEVM has reduced transaction costs by up to 90% and completed final settlements in three seconds. Buterin stated that the next step is to introduce these improvements to the Ethereum mainnet so that blockchain interactions on the mainnet can be as fast and cost-effective as traditional web applications.

2. Ethereum L1 Performance Leap: Achieving 400 TPS by the End of 2025

At ETHKyiv 2025, Tomasz K. Stańczak, the Co-Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation, elaborated on the next steps for the Ethereum mainnet: a genuine enhancement of the main network's performance.

He revealed that by the end of 2026, Ethereum will achieve three-slot finality (3SF), reducing the average transaction confirmation time from 15 minutes to just 36 seconds. For users, this will provide an instant traditional digital payment experience while retaining all the advantages of decentralization.

Stańczak listed recent milestones:

By the end of 2025, Ethereum L1 will reach 400 transactions per second (TPS).

This year, the block gas limit will reach 100 million and will jump to 60 million per block within a month or two (as of the publication date - editor).

Background: Expanding Ethereum Layer-1 is crucial as it is the cornerstone of the entire ecosystem, providing the security, settlement capability, and censorship resistance that Layer-2 relies on. Faster mainnet throughput allows users to better ensure that their transactions are completed on a decentralized global network without being bottlenecked by Layer-2 operators.

As Vitalik Buterin summarized: "Our goal is to make Ethereum more private, more censorship-resistant, while also making it very simple, so that even those far from technology can use it with peace of mind every day."

3. Factors that Truly Drive the Value and Mass Adoption of Ethereum

For followers of Ethereum, some big questions always remain: what actually supports the value of Ethereum, and what could trigger mass adoption? When seeking answers from Vitalik Buterin and Tomasz Stańczak at ETHKyiv 2025, they each focused on different but interconnected driving factors.

Tomasz pointed out three non-negotiable principles: privacy, data protection, and transparency. According to him, these are exactly the expectations that enterprise clients and regular users have for any blockchain platform today. He explained, "Ethereum is a global network, and its increased adoption directly enhances the value of the entire ecosystem." The more businesses and individuals use Ethereum for practical purposes, the greater the demand, and ultimately, the greater the value.

At the same time, Vitalik will place the problem from the perspective of financial utility. His argument is that when Ethereum becomes the framework for real-world assets (especially tokenized stocks and bonds), mass adoption will come. He said, "They are the gateway to mass adoption and the bridge between traditional finance and Web3." As heavyweight companies like BlackRock, Deutsche Bank, and a well-known crypto service provider actively utilize Ethereum for asset tokenization, we have already seen the lines between the $117 trillion market of traditional finance and Web3 infrastructure blur.

In short: the true value of Ethereum does not merely lie in speculation, but at the intersection of building secure, private, and practical financial applications. This is where its large-scale adoption becomes inevitable.

IV. ETHKyiv 2025: Innovation and Resilience in the Midst of Conflict

The highlight of the ETHKyiv 2025 conference is its ability to connect with global thought leaders. Despite the risks brought by the war, developers can still listen to firsthand insights from the most influential builders of Ethereum.

As described by Stankach himself: businesses, DeFi, exploration, artificial intelligence, research, everyday problems, collaboration with people—we must understand the direction and provide feedback. A lot of feedback. His daily work—spending hours answering developers' questions—highlights that the strength of Ethereum lies in its people, not just its protocol.

It is crucial to note that ETHKyiv 2025 is far more than just a tech event on the calendar. Held against the backdrop of ongoing war, it vividly demonstrates a larger significance: even in the darkest times, Ukraine's tech community chooses to build, learn, and connect with the global ecosystem. The war context throughout the hackathon is hard to ignore, but it is not a shadow; it is a driving force. The performance by violinist and soldier Moisei Bondarenko, with his music echoing in the liberated Ukrainian cities, reminds everyone that innovation and humanity must go hand in hand. Similarly, the tactical medical session hosted by field medic Alcho Rudy not only imparted practical skills but also fostered a shared atmosphere of resilience.

The uniqueness of ETHKyiv 2025 lies in the fact that it is a convergence of thoughts and spirits, witnessing the resilience of community, curiosity, and shared values even in times of war. The world is paying attention not only to technology but also to the resilience and unity demonstrated by the builders of Ukraine.

Conclusion:

Vitalik Buterin announced significant news at ETHKyiv 2025, indicating that Ethereum L1 will achieve 400 TPS by the end of 2025 and will soon enable full nodes to run on mobile devices. These technological breakthroughs, combined with Ethereum's efforts in privacy, data protection, and real-world asset tokenization, will drive Ethereum towards mass adoption and solidify its position as the infrastructure for Web3.