Vitalik Buterin outlines how Ethereum’s Verge can bring blockchain nodes to smartwatches

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has laid out further plans to improve the blockchain’s Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system through a new upgrade called “The Verge.”

In a blog post published on Oct. 23, Buterin explained that while running an Ethereum node is technically possible on a standard laptop, the current system’s data requirements make it impractical for many users.

Operating a node demands hundreds of gigabytes of data to verify blocks, and this data grows by about 30 GB each year. These high storage needs restrict the number of users who can run fully verifying 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 is about changing this, and making fully-verifying the chain so computationally affordable that every mobile wallet, browser wallet, and even smart watch is doing it by default.”

The Verge

Initially, “The Verge” focused on adopting Verkle trees, a data structure that facilitates more compact proofs and enables the stateless verification of Ethereum blocks.

However, the scope has since broadened. The update now aims to make Ethereum verification more resource-efficient by combining stateless validation techniques and advanced cryptographic proofs like SNARKs (Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge).

SNARKs allow one party to prove they hold certain information without disclosing the details, making it possible to verify complex transactions swiftly on-chain. Buterin believes this technology could enable Ethereum’s blockchain to be verified 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 proofs needed to validate the block.

This shift toward stateless clients is crucial, as it reduces storage demands and accelerates blockchain performance. This would improve the overall user experience while lowering the 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 either Verkle trees or STARKed binary hash trees. While STARKs serve a similar function to SNARKs, they offer additional benefits in terms of scalability and security, helping Ethereum overcome some of the limitations of its existing proof systems.

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