Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, envisions a future where Ethereum (ETH) full nodes are so streamlined they could operate on mobile devices.
Speaking at Korea Blockchain Week, as reported by Cointelegraph, Buterin acknowledged the centralization of nodes as one of the major hurdles for the Ethereum network. This is especially true given that a significant portion of the 5,901 active Ethereum full nodes currently operate on centralized services like Amazon Web Services (AWS).
But, if Buterin’s vision materializes, there could soon be a time where fully authenticated Ethereum nodes can be run “directly” from a smartphone.
Making Ethereum more decentralized
Vitalik Buterin emphasized the importance of addressing the centralization of full nodes, considering it a critical component in Ethereum’s journey towards achieving greater decentralization.
The co-founder of Ethereum highlighted:
“One of those key components is simplifying the technical process for individuals to operate nodes. The principle of ‘statelessness’ stands out as a pivotal solution in this regard.”
Buterin went on to explain the current reliance on centralized services by many node operators. The primary reason is the extensive storage requirements, often reaching “hundreds of gigabytes.” However, he pointed out that the idea of “statelessness” offers a promising solution to this challenge.
Buterin emphasized the potential of stateless clients, saying, “With stateless clients, the storage requirements to run a node are virtually negligible.”
The Ethereum Foundation has long aspired to achieve statelessness, which entails eliminating dependence on centralized service providers for network operation. However, Buterin, in his address, confessed that realizing this goal is a long-term endeavor.
Addressing these technical challenges might span a broad timeframe. “We could be looking at a solution in a decade, or even two,” Buterin estimated.
