Ethereum researcher Justin Drake came up with Lean Ethereum as a plan. It suggests a simple, modular, and safe structure that makes it easier to scale, less complicated, and more accessible.
The design has two modes: Fort Mode, which provides the most security and uptime, and Beast Mode, which aims for 10,000 TPS on Layer 1 and up to 1 million TPS through Layer 2 rollups.
It focuses on zkVMs and Data Availability Sampling (DAS), which are types of hash-based cryptography. Lean Ethereum adds three important sublayers: Lean Consensus for quick transactions, Blobs 2.0 for better data handling, and EVM 2.0 for better performance and developer productivity. 
It wants to be more open and stronger by letting full-node validation happen on mobile devices or browsers in less than an hour.
Ethereum celebrated its 10th birthday last month, and as we speculate about what to expect in the coming years, Ethereum researcher Justin Drake announced ‘Lean Ethereum’. Intrigued by the idea, our team got into the methodical vision laid in front of the world and deciphered it for our readers. While we were on it, we realised Lean Ethereum is more than a typical upgrade. It is, in fact, a reorientation of the network where all the unnecessary complexities will be removed, and the focus will be on resilience, speed, and being more inclusive. In short, this will be Ethereum at its best – lean, robust, and created to survive the worst of digital threats.
The Modes
Sitting at the centre are the two strategic modes. The first: Fort Mode. Imagine how it will be if Ethereum becomes immune to quantum computers or even state-level attacks and ensures 100% uptime! It will be like a digital fortress, determined and immovable. Fort Mode will ensure that if the internet is up, so is Ethereum.
Next is Beast Mode. Lean Ethereum will come with a dual personality, where the Beast Mode will be like the turbo version of a hybrid car. It will make Ethereum capable of handling 10,000 transactions per second on Layer 1 and up to 1 million TPS on Layer 2 rollups. Advanced technologies like zkVMs (zero-knowledge virtual machines) and DAS (data availability sampling) will be used to bring these performances alive. Basically, this is Ethereum’s smart way to process and verify data faster without compromising security.
The Three Lean Sublayers
The roadmap proposes three core sublayers to achieve the targets it sets:
Lean Consensus (Beacon Chain 2.0): This will be the fast mode where transactions are confirmed almost instantly, making the network more secure and user-friendly for every user. It will be like moving from dial-up internet to lightning-fast fibre.
Lean Data (Blobs 2.0): This will be the patch-up to how Ethereum stores and moves data. Using a standard blueprint, blocks will become more efficient and scalable. It will be a win-win for developers, as they will get better output without much complexity.
Lean Execution (EVM 2.0): The Ethereum Virtual Machine gets smarter and faster with a zero-knowledge-proof-friendly instruction set, moreover on RISC-V. This will improve performance while keeping compatibility with existing apps intact. In short: faster transactions, easier verification, no broken apps.
Together, these three will be the backbone of Lean Ethereum, making it simpler, faster, and future-proof.
Just Hash It All
To simplify further and make it more efficient and secure, Lean Ethereum plans to use hash-based cryptography across layers. This shift will future-proof Ethereum against quantum threats.
Seamless and Accessible for All
The best and most fun part about Lean Ethereum is its vision of optimization and accessibility. It aims to become lightweight enough for anyone to run it on mobile phones and regular web browsers, in less than an hour. That means there will be no requirement for high-end hardware or tons of bandwidth for Ethereum to work. Ethereum will be more inclusive and accessible to people with limited resources to be a part of decentralization.
In a Nutshell
Lean Ethereum is a bold and philosophical shift for Ethereum. It is the evolution towards a cleaner and more efficient protocol built for rapid innovation. It is designed to last for centuries, yet quick enough to adapt to the digital economy. Lean Ethereum can be a benchmark for a future where scalability, simplicity, and accessibility are not up for compromise. This fortified Ethereum is all set to lead the decentralized world to the next horizon.
FAQ
What is Lean Ethereum?
Ethereum researcher Justin Drake proposed to simplify and modify Ethereum’s code of conduct. It focuses on making Ethereum minimal, scalable, secure, and accessible to ensure its longevity and adaptability.
What is so lean about it?
The project aims to remove unnecessary complexity and build more efficient Ethereum, with zero compromise of security or decentralization.
Is Lean Ethereum quantum-resistant?
It proposes a shift to hash-based cryptography. This is considerably more resilient against future quantum computing threats.
When will Lean Ethereum be implemented?
So far there has been no announcement of a fixed date. However, considering it a vision that has a long-term goal as its core, it is expected to evolve as the ecosystem matures.
