Vitalik Buterin recently expressed a shift in his perspective on the blockchain concept of recording only transaction sequences without committing to state. According to ChainCatcher, Buterin explained the reasons behind this change in viewpoint.
Initially, Buterin opposed the idea because if a blockchain does not commit to state, users would either need to verify all transactions from the genesis block or rely on a single third-party service, both of which are not ideal. In contrast, designs like Ethereum's, which commit to state roots in block headers, allow for state verification under the assumption of a majority honest consensus using Merkle proofs, making it more feasible.
Buterin highlighted that the development of zero-knowledge technologies such as ZK-SNARKs has been pivotal. These technologies enable the verification of blockchain correctness without re-executing all transactions, thus achieving both security and scalability.
Additionally, Buterin reflected on real-world uncertainties such as network disruptions, service provider shutdowns, consensus centralization, and censorship risks. He emphasized that blockchain systems must always retain a self-verifiable option that does not rely on others. In his view, the concept of a "mountain cabin" is not for everyday use but serves as a safety net in extreme situations and as leverage against intermediaries and service providers. Maintaining this minimal viable, self-sufficient path is an essential part of Ethereum's long-term evolution.
