Ethereum wants home validators to verify proofs but a 12 GPU reality raises a new threat

Ethereum researcher ladislaus.eth printed a walkthrough final week explaining how Ethereum plans to transfer from re-executing each transaction to verifying zero-knowledge proofs.

The publish frames it as a “quiet but elementary transformation,” and the framing is correct. Not as a result of the work is secret, but as a result of its implications ripple throughout Ethereum’s whole structure in ways in which will not be apparent till the items join.

This is not Ethereum “adding ZK” as a function. Ethereum is prototyping another validation path during which some validators can attest to blocks by verifying compact execution proofs somewhat than re-running each transaction.

If it really works, Ethereum’s layer-1 position shifts from “settlement and knowledge availability for rollups” towards “high-throughput execution whose verification stays low-cost sufficient for home validators.”

What’s truly being constructed

EIP-8025, titled “Optional Execution Proofs,” landed in draft type and specifies the mechanics.
Execution proofs are shared throughout the consensus-layer peer-to-peer community through a devoted subject. Validators can function in two new modes: proof-generating or stateless validation.

The proposal explicitly states that it “doesn’t require a hardfork” and stays backward suitable, whereas nodes can nonetheless re-execute as they do immediately.

The Ethereum Foundation’s zkEVM workforce printed a concrete roadmap for 2026 on Jan. 26, outlining six sub-themes: execution witness and visitor program standardization, zkVM-guest API standardization, consensus layer integration, prover infrastructure, benchmarking and metrics, and safety with formal verification.

The first L1-zkEVM breakout name is scheduled for Feb. 11 at 15:00 UTC.

The end-to-end pipeline works like this: an execution-layer shopper produces an ExecutionWitness, a self-contained package deal containing all knowledge wanted to validate a block with out holding the total state.

A standardized visitor program consumes that witness and validates the state transition. A zkVM executes this program, and a prover generates a proof of appropriate execution. The consensus layer shopper then verifies that proof as a substitute of calling the execution layer shopper to re-execute.

The key dependency is ePBS (Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation), focused for the upcoming Glamsterdam hardfork. Without ePBS, the proving window is roughly one to two seconds, which is just too tight for real-time proving. With ePBS offering block pipelining, the window extends to six to 9 seconds.

The decentralization trade-off

If non-compulsory proofs and witness codecs mature, extra home validators can take part with out sustaining full execution layer state.

Raising gasoline limits turns into politically and economically simpler as a result of validation price decouples from execution complexity. Verification work now not scales linearly with on-chain exercise.

However, proofing carries its personal danger of centralization. An Ethereum Research publish from Feb. 2 reports that proving a full Ethereum block at the moment requires roughly 12 GPUs and takes a mean of seven seconds.

The creator flags issues about centralization and notes that limits stay troublesome to predict. If proving stays GPU-heavy and concentrates in builder or prover networks, Ethereum could commerce “everybody re-executes” for “few show, many verify.”

The design goals to tackle this by introducing shopper variety on the proving layer. EIP-8025’s working assumption is a three-of-five threshold, which means an attester accepts a block’s execution as legitimate as soon as it has verified three of 5 impartial proofs from completely different execution-layer shopper implementations.

This preserves shopper variety on the protocol stage but would not resolve the {hardware} entry drawback.

The most sincere framing is that Ethereum is shifting the decentralization battleground. Today’s constraint is “are you able to afford to run an execution layer shopper?” Tomorrow’s is perhaps “are you able to entry GPU clusters or prover networks?”

The wager is that proof verification is simpler to commoditize than state storage and re-execution, but the {hardware} query stays open.

L1 scaling unlock

Ethereum’s roadmap, final up to date Feb. 5, lists “Statelessness” as a main improve theme: verifying blocks with out storing giant state.

Optional execution proofs and witnesses are the concrete mechanism that makes stateless validation sensible. A stateless node requires solely a consensus shopper and verifies proofs throughout payload processing.

Syncing reduces to downloading proofs for current blocks because the final finalization checkpoint.

This issues for gasoline limits. Today, each enhance within the gasoline restrict makes working a node tougher. If validators can verify proofs somewhat than re-executing, the verification price now not scales with the gasoline restrict. Execution complexity and validation price decouple.

The benchmarking and repricing workstream within the 2026 roadmap explicitly targets metrics that map gasoline consumed to proving cycles and proving time.

If these metrics stabilize, Ethereum beneficial properties a lever it hasn’t had earlier than: the flexibility to elevate throughput with out proportionally rising the price of working a validator.

What this implies for layer-2 blockchains

A current publish by Vitalik Buterin argues that layer-2 blockchains should differentiate beyond scaling and explicitly ties the worth of a “native rollup precompile” to the necessity for enshrined zkEVM proofs that Ethereum already wants to scale layer-1.

The logic is simple: if all validators verify execution proofs, the identical proofs may also be utilized by an EXECUTE precompile for native rollups. Layer-1 proving infrastructure turns into shared infrastructure.

This shifts the layer-2 worth proposition. If layer-1 can scale to high throughput whereas holding verification prices low, rollups cannot justify themselves on the idea of “Ethereum cannot deal with the load.”

The new differentiation axes are specialised digital machines, ultra-low latency, preconfirmations, and composability fashions like rollups that lean on fast-proving designs.

The state of affairs the place layer-2s stay related is one during which roles are break up between specialization and interoperability.

Layer-1 turns into the high-throughput, low-verification-cost execution and settlement layer. Layer-2s develop into function labs, latency optimizers, and composability bridges.

However, that requires layer-2 groups to articulate new worth propositions and for Ethereum to ship on the proof-verification roadmap.

Three paths ahead

There are three potential eventualities sooner or later.

The first state of affairs consists of proof-first validation changing into frequent. If non-compulsory proofs and witness codecs mature and shopper implementations stabilize round standardized interfaces, extra home validators can take part with out working the total execution layer state.

Gas limits enhance as a result of the validation price now not aligns with execution complexity. This path is dependent upon the ExecutionWitness and visitor program standardization workstream converging on transportable codecs.

Scenario two is the place prover centralization turns into the new choke level. If proving stays GPU-heavy and concentrated in builder or prover networks, then Ethereum shifts the decentralization battleground from validators’ {hardware} to prover market construction.

The protocol nonetheless capabilities, as one sincere prover wherever retains the chain reside, but the safety mannequin modifications.

The third state of affairs is layer-1 proof verification changing into a shared infrastructure. If consensus layer integration hardens and ePBS delivers the prolonged proving window, then Layer 2s’ worth proposition tilts towards specialised VMs, ultra-low latency, and new composability fashions somewhat than “scaling Ethereum” alone.

This path requires ePBS to ship on schedule for Glamsterdam.

Scenario	What has to be true (technical preconditions)	What breaks / predominant danger	What improves (decentralization, gasoline limits, sync time)	L1 position end result (execution throughput vs verification price)	L2 implication (new differentiation axis)	“What to watch” sign
Proof-first validation turns into frequent	Execution Witness + visitor program requirements converge; zkVM/visitor API standardizes; CL proof verification path is secure; proofs propagate reliably on P2P; acceptable multi-proof threshold semantics (eg 3-of-5)	Proof availability / latency turns into a new dependency; verification bugs develop into consensus delicate if/when it’s relied on; mismatch throughout purchasers/provers	Home validators can attest with out EL state; sync time drops (proofs since finalization checkpoint); gas-limit will increase develop into simpler as a result of verification price decouples from execution complexity	L1 shifts towards higher-throughput execution with constant-ish verification price for a lot of validators	L2s should justify themselves past “L1 can’t scale”: specialised VMs, app-specific execution, customized price fashions, privateness, and so forth.	Spec/test-vector hardening; witness/visitor portability throughout purchasers; secure proof gossip + failure dealing with; benchmark curves (gasoline → proving cycles/time)
Prover centralization turns into the choke level	Proof technology stays GPU-heavy; proving market consolidates (builders / prover networks); restricted “garage-scale” proving; liveness depends on a small set of subtle provers	“Few show, many verify” concentrates energy; censorship / MEV dynamics intensify; prover outages create liveness/finality stress; geographic / regulatory focus danger	Validators should verify cheaply, but decentralized shifts: simpler testifying, tougher proving; some gas-limit headroom, but constrained by prover economics	L1 turns into execution scalable in idea, but virtually bounded by prover capability and market construction	L2s could lean into primarily based / pre- confirmed designs, various proving programs, or latency ensures—doubtlessly rising dependence on privileged actors	Proving price traits ({hardware} necessities, time per block); prover variety metrics; incentives for distributed proving; failure-mode drills (what occurs when proofs are lacking?)
L1 proof verification turns into shared infrastructure	CL integration “hardens”; proofs develop into broadly produced / consumed; ePBS ships and gives a workable proving window; interfaces enable reuse (eg EXECUTE-style precompile / native rollup hooks)	Cross-domain coupling danger: if L1 proving infra is pressured, rollup verification paths may additionally endure; complexity / assault floor expands	Shared infra reduces duplicated proving effort; improves interoperability; extra predictable verification prices; clearer path to greater L1 throughput with out pricing out validators	L1 evolves into a proof-verified execution + settlement layer that may additionally verify rollups natively	L2s pivot to latency (preconfs), specialised execution environments, and composable fashions (eg fast-proving / synchronous-ish designs) somewhat than “scale-only”	ePBS / Glamsterdam progress; end-to-end pipeline demos (witness → proof → CL verify); benchmarks + potential gasoline repricing; rollout of minimal viable proof distribution semantics and monitoring

The larger image

Consensus-specs integration maturity will sign whether or not “non-compulsory proofs” transfer from principally TODOs to hardened take a look at vectors.

Standardizing the ExecutionWitness and visitor program is the keystone for stateless validation portability throughout purchasers. Benchmarks that map gasoline consumed to proving cycles and proving time will decide whether or not gasoline repricing for ZK-friendliness is possible.

ePBS and Glamsterdam progress will point out whether or not the six-to-nine-second proving window turns into a reality. Breakout name outputs will reveal whether or not the working teams converge on interfaces and minimal viable proof distribution semantics.

Ethereum isn’t switching to proof-based validation quickly. EIP-8025 explicitly states it “can’t base upgrades on it but,” and the non-compulsory framing is intentional. As a end result, that is a testable pathway somewhat than an imminent activation.

Yet, the truth that the Ethereum Foundation shipped a 2026 implementation roadmap, scheduled a breakout name with challenge house owners, and drafted an EIP with concrete peer-to-peer gossip mechanics means this work has moved from analysis plausibility to a supply program.

The transformation is quiet as a result of it would not contain dramatic token economics modifications or user-facing options. But it is elementary as a result of it rewrites the connection between execution complexity and validation price.

If Ethereum can decouple the 2, layer-1 will now not be the bottleneck that forces everything interesting onto layer-2.

And if layer-1 proof verification turns into shared infrastructure, your complete layer-2 ecosystem wants to reply a tougher query: what are you constructing that layer-1 cannot?

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