Has the impossible triangle been broken? Vitalik's latest statement reveals the true progress of Ethereum

Vitalik Buterin recently stated that Ethereum is approaching a practical solution to the long-standing “Impossible Triangle” problem in blockchain. He pointed out that two key upgrades, PeerDAS and ZK-EVM, are transforming Ethereum into a “completely new, more powerful decentralized network.” Notably, this is not just a theoretical concept on paper but an engineering achievement based on deployed code. Currently, ETH is priced at $3,190.62, with a 6.20% increase over the past 7 days.

What is the Blockchain Impossible Triangle

The blockchain impossible triangle refers to the dilemma where decentralization, security, and high throughput are difficult to achieve simultaneously. Vitalik illustrated this issue with concrete examples:

This comparison clearly demonstrates why Ethereum’s breakthroughs are of historic significance.

The Current State of Two Key Technologies

PeerDAS: Data Availability Sampling

PeerDAS officially launched on the Ethereum mainnet in 2025, marking the first implementation of this key technology. Its core function is to allow nodes to verify data availability through sampling without downloading the entire block data. This significantly lowers hardware requirements for running nodes, enabling more participants to join the network and directly enhancing decentralization.

ZK-EVM: Zero-Knowledge Proof Virtual Machine

ZK-EVM is currently in Alpha stage, with performance levels reaching production standards, though security improvements are ongoing. Vitalik revealed that small-scale deployment in the network is expected to begin in 2026. This technology’s significance lies in its ability to verify transactions and state using zero-knowledge proofs, ensuring security while greatly increasing throughput.

Clear Timeline Planning

Vitalik further outlined the technical roadmap for the coming years:

• 2026: ZK-EVM begins small-scale network deployment, gas limits gradually increase
• 2027-2030: ZK-EVM gradually becomes the mainstream method for block validation, state structure adjustments, and distributed block construction improvements
• Within 4 years: This vision will unfold step by step, achieving a true balance of decentralization, security, and high throughput on Ethereum

This is not a vague long-term plan but a concrete engineering timetable based on existing code progress.

Breakthroughs Based on Code, Not Just Papers

Vitalik emphasized that this breakthrough is built on “deployed code.” PeerDAS is already running on the mainnet, and while ZK-EVM is still in the security enhancement phase, performance validation has been completed. This shift from theory to practice indicates that Ethereum is moving from the proof-of-concept stage into real deployment.

Potential Market and Ecosystem Impact

Market response has already recognized this news. ETH has gained 6.20% over the past 7 days, with a 1.59% increase in the last 24 hours, and a current market cap of $38.509 billion, accounting for 12.15% of the cryptocurrency market.

Deeper implications include that if these two technologies progress as planned, Ethereum’s capacity will be significantly enhanced. This means:

• DeFi applications can handle higher transaction volumes with lower fees
• On-chain gaming, supply chain, and other applications will see greatly improved usability
• More institutions and developers may be attracted to the Ethereum ecosystem
• The vision of Ethereum as the “world computer” moves closer to reality

Summary

Vitalik’s recent statement marks a key milestone in Ethereum’s shift from theoretical exploration to engineering implementation. The solution to the impossible triangle is no longer just a paper concept but is being realized through existing or soon-to-be-deployed technologies like PeerDAS and ZK-EVM. 2026 will be a critical period for small-scale validation, while the gradual progress from 2027 to 2030 will determine whether Ethereum can truly fulfill this promise. For investors and developers, this clear technical roadmap provides a well-defined direction.