Vitalik Buterin unveils the blockchain layer extension model: How does Ethereum use computation and data to break through performance bottlenecks?

January 27 News, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently proposed a new blockchain scalability framework, using a “hierarchical structure” to explain why different technical components have varying expansion speeds. He divides the blockchain into three main layers: the top layer is computation, the middle layer is data, and the bottom layer is state. This model is considered a key to understanding Ethereum’s scalability route.

In Vitalik’s view, computation is the easiest part to scale. Through parallel execution, zero-knowledge proofs, and outsourcing some computations to external systems, blockchains can significantly increase throughput without adding trust assumptions. This is also the core logic of most current Layer 2 architectures, which perform many transactions off-chain and only submit the results to the main chain for verification.

In contrast, data expansion is slower than computation. Blockchains must ensure that all critical data can be verified and accessed, which limits scalability. However, with the introduction of data distribution technologies like PeerDAS, Ethereum is reducing node storage and bandwidth pressures, thereby supporting more users and higher data demands while maintaining decentralization.

The real bottleneck lies in the state layer. Vitalik points out that each node must verify and store the entire network state, and the continuous growth of state size raises hardware requirements and could lead to centralization risks in the long run. To address this, he proposes a “hierarchical ascent” approach, using computation and data to replace state as much as possible. Ethereum’s Rollup moves most of the state off-chain, sharding disperses data load, and zero-knowledge proofs reduce on-chain execution costs.

For developers, this layered model has direct design implications: reducing unnecessary on-chain state, relying more on proofs and verifiable data, and shifting complexity to higher levels. With this approach, Ethereum aims to establish a new balance between performance, cost, and decentralization, providing a clearer technical roadmap for the blockchain’s long-term scalability.