Ethereum just gave a timestamp to its ambition, and the new roadmap could shape its valuation. The Foundation’s new “Strawmap” targets a high-throughput settlement layer by 2029, reducing finality from about 16 minutes to seconds and aiming for 1 gigabyte per second directly on layer 1.
Instead of relying almost entirely on Layer 2 for speed, Ethereum wants the base layer itself to become faster, more resilient, and globally competitive compared to traditional financial rails.
Key takeaways
- The target: The roadmap targets 10,000 TPS (1 gigabyte/s) on layer 1 and up to 10 million TPS on layer 2 via data availability sampling.
- The change: The introduction of the single-slot finality “Minimmit” aims to reduce the irreversible transaction time from approximately 16 minutes to 6 to 16 seconds.
- The timeline: The developers are planning seven hard forks over a six-month cycle through 2029 to implement these changes gradually.
The Strawmap or Ethereum Roadmap: 10,000 TPS and instant finality
The big number is 10,000 TPS on Layer 1.
Strawmap targets around 1 gigabyte per second using zkEVM and real-time proof. Today, transactions are included quickly but take around 16 minutes to reach finality. The new goal is 6-16 seconds, which is essential for serious financial use.
To achieve this, Ethereum is planning up to seven hard forks through 2029. Slot times would gradually increase from 12 seconds to 8, and eventually to blocks close to one second. This delays any push toward full “ossification” and prioritizes performance.
Vitalik acknowledged that previous assumptions about relying almost entirely on L2s needed to be revised. If rollups have to handle millions of TPS, the base layer has to handle a lot more load itself.
For institutions, the message is clear. Ethereum wants to become a settlement infrastructure capable of supporting heavy and real financial flows without congestion.
Ethereum Roadmap: L1 Speed vs. L2 Scale
For years, the message was simple: scale on layer 2. Strawmap adjusts this position. Scale to L2, but make layer 1 fast enough that it doesn’t become a bottleneck. Ethereum reacts to competitive pressure.
Vitalik recognized that previous assumptions about L2 reliance needed to be updated. If rollups need to process millions of TPS, the base layer should comfortably handle around 10,000 TPS. Faster finality is also important for new AI-driven use cases, where agents need near-instant settlement to execute complex on-chain strategies.
The proposed move toward techniques such as erasure coding signals a greater focus on data propagation and network efficiency. If successful, Ethereum strengthens its position as a high-speed settlement layer. Otherwise, it risks ceding the perception of performance to faster, more centralized alternatives.
Ethereum Price Analysis: The Path to Valuation in 2029
The market reacted quickly, with ETH hovering around the $2,060 area after the roadmap was abandoned. In the long term, the plan offers investors a structural anchor. This indicates that Ethereum has no plans to fall behind faster monolithic chains.
Technically, the price of Ethereum is compressing. $2,150 is the key resistance. A clear breakout opens the way towards $2,400. On the downside, $2,000 is the near-term pivot, and $1,920 to $1,800 is the structural support zone if sentiment changes.
Execution risk is significant. If slot reductions and first upgrades go beyond the end of 2026, the market could revise downward. The move toward erasure coding shows that the Foundation is addressing core data bottlenecks. If this works, Ethereum strengthens its position as a high-speed settlement infrastructure. Otherwise, it risks being eclipsed by faster alternatives.
For now, holding $2,000 keeps the bullish structure alive. Losing $1,920 would weaken the pattern until a new catalyst appears.
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The article Ethereum Roadmap 2029: ETH will become the high-speed Internet of value appeared first on Cryptonews.
