Vitalik Buterin wants Ethereum to Achieve Stateless Validation Via The Verge

The Verge’s initial vision centered around migrating Ethereum’s state storage to Verkle tree and achieving stateless Validation Via The Verge, a tree structure that allows for significantly more compact proofs, facilitating stateless validation of Ethereum blocks.

One of the most powerful attributes of a blockchain is its inherent ability to be verified by anyone. The decentralized nature of blockchains allows individuals to run nodes on their computers, independently verifying the integrity of the chain.

This inherent transparency safeguards against malicious actors, as even if a majority of nodes attempt to alter the chain, independent nodes would continue to adhere to the original rules, maintaining the blockchain’s integrity.

However, this crucial principle hinges on the feasibility of running fully verifying nodes for a significant portion of the user base. This applies both to stakers, who are responsible for maintaining the network’s security, and regular users.

While running a node is achievable on a consumer laptop, it remains a complex and resource-intensive task, limiting widespread participation. The Verge project aims to address this challenge by making full chain verification computationally affordable, allowing even mobile wallets, browser wallets, and smartwatches to participate.

The Verge Ethereum Block Storage

This would enable a node to verify an Ethereum block without needing to store the entire Ethereum state, utilizing only a few hundred kilobytes of proof data and a few hundred milliseconds of verification time.

However, the Verge’s scope has expanded to encompass a broader goal of maximizing resource efficiency in Ethereum chain verification, encompassing not only stateless validation technology but also SNARK-based verification of all Ethereum execution. This shift in focus has also raised questions about the suitability of Verkle trees, as they are vulnerable to quantum computers.

The emergence of STARKs (Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge) has presented an alternative to Merkle trees. STARKs are highly scalable and resistant to quantum computing attacks. Recent advancements in STARK technology, particularly in the realm of circle STARKs, have demonstrated impressive performance, allowing for the proving of millions of hashes per second on standard laptops.

Therefore, the Verge project has evolved into a more open-ended initiative, exploring multiple possibilities for achieving efficient chain verification. Today, an Ethereum client requires hundreds of gigabytes of state data to verify blocks, a figure that grows consistently each year. This significant storage demand restricts the number of individuals capable of running fully verifying nodes.