Vitalik Buterin recently spoke about a technique that has the potential to greatly improve the primary network of Ethereum.
This innovation entails the migration of Ethereum’s existing system to “Verkle trees,” thereby enhancing the network’s compatibility with zero-knowledge proofs (ZKs). ZK proofs are techniques that establish knowledge of a particular piece of information without disclosing that information.
In describing Ethereum’s foundational “keccak Merkle Patricia trees,” Buterin highlights its present shortcomings. The biggest problem is the massive “witness sizes” (the quantity of data required to verify a transaction), which might reach 300 MB. Such sizes are not feasible for efficient and lean procedures, such as zero-knowledge proofs.
In contrast, zero-knowledge proofs are the primary motivation behind the design of “Verkle trees.” For this reason, they use an alternative cryptographic method that is based on a certain kind of mathematical curve. If Ethereum were to use Verkle trees, zero-knowledge proofs may be more easily applied to Layer 1 of the network.
It was recognized that Polygon’s zkEVM Type 1 had made advancements in the aforementioned technologies. Because it has the necessary processing capacity, the network processes proofs rapidly. Despite suggestions to modify the current method, such as EIP-3102, the Ethereum community is more inclined to use Verkle trees.
Digital assets’ value tends to rise in response to upgrades that make them more efficient and scalable. Nonetheless, Verkle trees have the potential to reduce transaction fees and increase speed, which might entice more users and developers to join the Ethereum network. The potential for more demand and activity to drive up the price of Ethereum is a real possibility.
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