Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, delivered a compelling keynote at the Ethereum Developer Community Conference (EDCON) 2024, detailing his vision for Ethereum’s trajectory over the next decade. Addressing topics such as voting, scalability, user experience, and technological advancements, Buterin highlighted the transformative potential of Ethereum by 2034.
What Will Shape Future Voting Processes?
Buterin proposed a future where Ethereum plays a pivotal role in transparent voting systems by 2034. He suggested that Ethereum-based wallets could revolutionize voting integrity and transparency. Additionally, he highlighted how Ethereum’s capabilities might extend into governance and decision-making sectors by integrating financial aspects with voting.
Scalability emerged as another critical area of focus. Buterin predicted substantial advancements in Ethereum’s scalability, which would result in significantly lower transaction fees. These improvements are expected to make Ethereum more accessible and efficient for everyday applications, eliminating existing limitations.
How Will User Experience Evolve?
On the topic of user experience and security, Buterin envisioned a convergence of Web2’s user-centric features with Web3‘s emphasis on user sovereignty by 2034. This integration aims to create more intuitive and secure services than what is currently offered by traditional Web2 platforms, enhancing the overall functionality and security of Ethereum-based applications.
Buterin also discussed the future of Layer-2 (L2) solutions on Ethereum, predicting that the use of Ethereum L2 will become as seamless as interacting with the Ethereum mainnet. This development is anticipated to facilitate a smoother and more efficient user experience, further boosting Ethereum’s growth and adoption.
Key Takeaways for Developers
– Innovate rather than replicate existing Web2 technologies.
– Focus on integrating advanced devices like wearables, AR, and BCI into the Ethereum ecosystem.
– Enhance security features within wallets and browsers using Community Notes and prediction markets.
Looking ahead, Buterin encouraged developers to pioneer innovations beyond current technologies. He envisaged a future where Ethereum integrates with various devices and technologies, including wearable devices, locally run artificial intelligence, augmented reality (AR), and brain-computer interfaces (BCI). Additionally, he foresees new technologies like Community Notes and prediction markets with advanced security features being incorporated into wallets and browsers to verify and protect user interactions.