Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined further plans to improve the blockchain’s proof-of-stake (PoS) system with a new upgrade called “The Verge.”
In a blog post published on October 23, Buterin explained that while running an Ethereum node is technically possible on a standard laptop, current data requirements make it impractical for many users.
Operating a node requires hundreds of gigabytes of data to verify blocks, and this data grows by approximately 30 GB each year. These high storage requirements limit the number of users who can run full verification nodes on Ethereum.
Buterin’s proposed Verge update addresses this challenge by introducing “stateless client verification,” which allows devices to validate blockchain data without storing the entire dataset locally.
He explained:
“The Verge aims to change that, and making full chain verification so computationally affordable that every mobile wallet, browser wallet, and even smartwatch does it by default.”
The edge
Initially, “The Verge” focused on adopting Verkle Trees, a data structure that facilitates more compact proofs and enables stateless verification of Ethereum blocks.
But since then, the scope has widened. The update now aims to make Ethereum verification more resource efficient by combining stateless validation techniques and advanced cryptographic proofs such as SNARKs (Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge).
SNARKs allow a party to prove they hold certain information without disclosing the details, allowing complex on-chain transactions to be quickly verified. Buterin believes this technology could enable verification of the Ethereum blockchain on small devices like smartwatches, expanding the potential for widespread participation in the network.
Stateless verification, in particular, eliminates the need for nodes to store all blockchain data. Instead, each block would include a “witness” containing the essential data and cryptographic proof needed to validate the block.
This move toward stateless clients is crucial because it reduces storage demands and accelerates blockchain performance. This would improve the overall user experience while reducing barriers to running Ethereum nodes, making solo staking much more accessible.
To implement these changes, Buterin proposes replacing Ethereum’s current state structure, known as the Merkle Patricia tree, with Verkle trees or STARKed binary hash trees. Although STARKs serve a similar function to SNARKs, they provide additional benefits in terms of scalability and security, helping Ethereum overcome some of the limitations of its existing proof systems.
