Vitalik Buterin proposes a solution to simplify node setup on Ethereum.

On Saturday, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin shared a merge request #CryptoMarketRebounds PTR#CryptoMarketBouncesBack proposing to unify the backend programs used by nodes to interact with the execution layer of the protocol and the Beacon Chain, which handles Ethereum's consensus mechanisms and staking operations, into a single unified code structure. The goal is to simplify node setup.
Currently, Ethereum node operators or validators must run two separate programs. Each of these programs requires setup and synchronization to coordinate and communicate with each other regarding data generated from Ethereum's consensus and execution layers.
This increases the technical complexity of running a node or providing validation services to the Ethereum network, preventing ordinary users from running their own infrastructure and creating dependence on third-party service providers.
Buterin stated in his post: "I feel like we've implicitly decided, at every level, that running a node is such a scary DevOps nightmare that it should be left to the professionals." He added:
"This is not right. We need to reverse this. Running your own Ethereum infrastructure should truly be basic for every individual and every family. The excuse that 'hardware requirements are high, so DevOps skill requirements and time are also naturally high' is unacceptable."
Buterin said that those who can afford high-quality computing hardware and the technical expertise required to build an Ethereum node often lack the time to do so, and that "nodes should be easy."
The Ethereum network and many smart contract blockchains have faced criticism due to technical complexity and hardware requirements for running nodes. This has also raised concerns about centralization in these networks.
Buterin proposes stateless nodes for greater network decentralization.
In May 2025, Buterin proposed partial stateless nodes that do not maintain a complete block history and only store data required by the node operator.
This approach reduces hardware costs and data storage requirements for users running nodes for personal purposes such as sending transactions and verifying the blockchain.
According to Go-Ethereum (GETH), disk space is often the primary bottleneck for node operators. Smart contract blockchains like Ethereum generate large amounts of data requiring increasingly larger storage spaces, making dedicated node hardware necessary.
Buterin wrote: "A market structure dominated by a handful of remote procedure call providers, or RPC providers, will face strong pressure to push users off the platform or censor them. Many RPC providers are already excluding entire countries."
In late January, Buterin mentioned that he had allocated approximately ( million dollars from his personal assets—16,384 ETH—to support privacy-preserving technologies, open hardware, and secure and verifiable software. He added that these funds will be used gradually over the coming years as the Ethereum Foundation enters what he describes as "a period of simple austerity" while pursuing its technical roadmap.
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