Ethereum May Look Very Different in Five Years

Consensys CEO Joseph Lubin (@ethereumJoseph) believes $ETH could look fundamentally different within the next few years. Speaking to The Block, Lubin said he expects Ethereum to evolve into a fully zero-knowledge proof based protocol within three to five years, a shift that would improve the base layer and strengthen composability between Ethereum and its Layer 2 networks.

Scaling the Base Layer

Central to Lubin's argument is the need to strengthen Ethereum's Layer 1, not just build around it. He pointed to Lean Ethereum as a key part of that effort. Proposed by Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake, Lean Ethereum is a long-term plan to simplify and strengthen the mainchain using zero-knowledge cryptography, covering upgrades across the consensus, data, and execution layers. The roadmap targets around 10,000 transactions per second on mainnet while preserving decentralization, and includes native privacy and quantum-resistant solutions.

Lubin described his support for the rollup-centric roadmap, but stressed that scaling Layer 1 is what makes the broader strategy work. For Lubin, Layer 2 networks remain critical, particularly as testing grounds for difficult technologies before they reach the mainnet.

From Fragmentation to Composability

On the Layer 2 side, Lubin noted that ZK technology has already reached real-time proof generation on certain networks. Chains such as Consensys's own Linea and Gnosis are already using zero-knowledge proofs to synchronize transactions across networks, with the longer-term goal of supporting a single atomic execution environment where users can move assets without bridges. "You can unify fragmented liquidity that way," Lubin said.

He framed the rollup ecosystem as moving from a divergence phase, where optimistic rollups enabled fast market entry, into a convergence phase focused on composability. The base layer improvements, ZK proving, and tighter integration between Layer 1 and Layer 2 are all part of that shift.

If the transition succeeds, a fully ZK based Ethereum would improve security, efficiency, and cross-chain composability across the ecosystem. The outcome Lubin described is a network built for speed and scale, without compromising on decentralization.

Sources:
The Block: Ethereum could become a fully zero-knowledge proof-based protocol in 3 to 5 years, Joe Lubin says
CryptoSlate: Justin Drake reveals 10-year Lean Ethereum roadmap
CoinDesk: Ethereum's Justin Drake Unveils Lean Roadmap