In a surprising twist that underscores the fast-evolving nature of blockchain technology, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, is advocating for the removal of a crucial feature he himself pioneered. This revelation sheds light on the significant scaling challenges that have been hampering Ethereum’s performance, especially concerning zero-knowledge proofs. Buterin’s recent comments on X (Twitter) highlighted that the modular exponentiation precompile, commonly known as modexp, is increasingly seen as a bottleneck that could stifle the network’s progress.
Buterin’s candid acknowledgment of his role in creating modexp, expressing a sense of “shame,” emphasizes the urgency of addressing this issue. He suggested that the precompile, currently responsible for verification bottlenecks that can be up to 50 times worse than average blocks, should be replaced with more efficient computational code. While the alternative may incur slightly higher gas costs, it promises to drastically simplify proof generation—a critical component in Ethereum’s journey toward a more privacy-centric infrastructure.
As the original inventor of the modexp precompile I bow my head in shame 😢But modexp really does hold Ethereum back so much. Both because of inefficiency, and because its complexity has exposed our ecosystem to huge amounts of consensus failure risk.We could do heroic…— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) November 3, 2025
This issue is particularly relevant as Ethereum shifts its focus to enhancing privacy capabilities while tackling the intricate technical barriers associated with the zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM). Zero-knowledge proofs are instrumental for Ethereum’s aspirations to handle transactions more swiftly and safely, without compromising privacy.
At the heart of the matter is the sheer computational burden posed by modexp, which is fundamental in various encryption methods, including RSA. These burdens become especially pronounced when applied to zkEVMs, which create cryptographic proofs for off-chain Ethereum computations. Buterin elaborated that the complexities associated with modexp significantly delay proof generation times, creating a ripple effect that slows down scalability solutions like rollups and Layer-2 networks.
Moreover, the intricacies involved with modexp not only slow operations but also increase the risk of consensus failures due to potential bugs and edge cases. Instead of focusing resources on a feature that serves a mere 0.01% of users, Buterin advocates for the deployment of standard Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) bytecode to achieve similar results but with much lower complexity. This strategic shift emphasizes the need for Ethereum to prioritize stability and scalability heading into an increasingly competitive landscape.
Source: Ethereum Magician
This pivotal moment in Ethereum’s technical evolution occurs amid the launch of the Ethereum Foundation’s groundbreaking initiative, “Ethereum for Institutions.” This program aims to bridge the gap between blockchain technology and enterprise adoption, providing tools that integrate zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and trusted execution environments. These developments empower businesses to build secure and compliant applications on Ethereum’s public blockchain while maintaining the necessary audit-ready frameworks.
🟣 The Ethereum Foundation has launched “Ethereum for Institutions” — a new portal to guide enterprises, financial institutions, and developers building on Ethereum’s infrastructure. #Ethereum #ETH https://t.co/NjRwr0E1Pz— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) October 29, 2025
As Ethereum establishes itself as a leading platform for real-world asset tokenization and stablecoins, with over 75% of tokenized real-world assets and approximately 60% of the global stablecoin supply hosted on the network, the urgency to enhance its capabilities cannot be overstated. Major financial players, including BlackRock and Securitize, are already leveraging Ethereum to deploy innovative financial instruments that boast instant settlement times and uphold transparency.
The Ethereum Foundation is also making commendable strides with its new 47-member Privacy Cluster, led by Igor Barinov. This team is dedicated to addressing pressing challenges surrounding user privacy, data verification, and institutional engagement—an essential step in safeguarding Ethereum’s future as a trusted platform. They aim to move from theoretical research to tangible solutions that enhance user experience while ensuring that Ethereum does not evolve into a tool for surveillance, thereby compromising user security.
👥 Ethereum Foundation launches 47-member Privacy Cluster led by Igor Barinov targeting private transactions, identity, and institutional adoption. #Ethereum #Privacy https://t.co/nXyyPyAmvR— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) October 9, 2025
Moreover, Buterin recently unveiled the GKR protocol, a revolutionary cryptographic technique capable of validating calculations ten times quicker than conventional methods. This innovation not only supports zero-knowledge proofs but also processes a staggering 2 million calculations per second on standard laptops, drastically improving transaction verification times and bolstering privacy across the Ethereum network.
As Ethereum continues to innovate, the upcoming changes driven by Buterin’s proposals and the Ethereum Foundation’s initiatives signal a promising future. Transitioning away from outdated features like modexp could pave the way for enhanced scalability, privacy, and overall performance. Perhaps the most exciting aspect is the potential for Ethereum to become a robust, trustless infrastructure that caters to the needs of both general users and institutional players.
In light of these advancements, stakeholders and users alike should stay tuned. With the rapid pace of change in the cryptocurrency landscape, now is the time to engage with these developments and consider how they might impact your approach to blockchain technology.