Odaily reported that Consensys CEO Joseph Lubin said Ethereum is expected to evolve into a fully zero-knowledge-proof-based protocol within the next three to five years. In his view, that transition would not only optimize Ethereum’s main chain, but also strengthen composability between Ethereum and its Layer 2 networks, creating a tighter technical relationship between the base layer and the scaling ecosystem.
The Rollup-Centric Roadmap and Lean Ethereum
Lubin said he supports the “Rollup-centric roadmap.” He argued that Ethereum’s base layer can be significantly upgraded by strengthening Layer 1, introducing the “Lean Ethereum” initiative, and expanding the use of ZK proofs. Lean Ethereum is designed to keep the mainnet highly decentralized while enabling more than 10,000 transactions per second, along with support for privacy and quantum-resistant solutions.
On the Layer 2 side, Lubin noted that ZK technology has already achieved real-time proving on some L2 networks, and that there are plans to extend this capability to Layer 1. According to his description, Ethereum would ultimately transition into a fully ZK-based base protocol supported by multiple provers. Projects such as Consensys-developed Linea and Gnosis are using zero-knowledge proofs to enable synchronized transactions across networks, with the goal of removing the need for bridges and unifying fragmented liquidity.
Response to EF Changes and “Second Foundation” Rumors
Lubin also discussed the early “divergence phase” of the Rollup roadmap. He said this phase was intended to give Layer 2 technologies room to experiment. While it can disperse liquidity in the short term, he described it as laying the groundwork for Ethereum’s future infinite scaling and technical iteration. Lubin also said that some Layer 2 technologies will become systemically important components, making this exploration process necessary.
Addressing recent personnel changes at the Ethereum Foundation, or EF, and rumors about a “second foundation,” Lubin said there will not be a second foundation. He said EF will continue focusing on core protocol development, usability and scaling, and institutional collaboration. At the same time, EF will support at least three independent teams spinning out from the foundation, with those teams focusing respectively on protocol work, user experience, and institutional expansion. The information was attributed to The Block.