Ethereum Foundation Prioritizes Security with New 2026 zkEVM Milestones
The Ethereum Foundation has announced three key milestones through the end of 2026 aimed at mandating 128-bit provable security for mainnet-grade zkEVMs. Interim targets include a February 2026 milestone requiring integration with the soundcalc security estimation tool for proof system components, and a May 2026 milestone targeting 100-bit provable security, final proof sizes under 600 KB, and compact descriptions of recursion architecture. The year-end 2026 milestone imposes even stricter requirements including 128-bit provable security, proof sizes under 300 KB, and formal security arguments for recursion soundness.
Despite significant performance improvements—proving times have decreased from 16 minutes to 16 seconds, with 99% of blocks provable under 10 seconds on target hardware—security remains a critical concern. This stems from reliance on unproven conjectures in STARK-based zkEVMs. The 128-bit provable security target aligns with established cryptographic standards, with recent advancements such as WHIR, JaggedPCS, and structured recursion enabling these achievable goals.
In October, the Ethereum Foundation launched the Ethereum for Institutions portal to further expand institutional adoption by emphasizing privacy-preserving technology. Reports indicate Ethereum hosts approximately 66% of tokenized real-world assets, according to RWA.xyz. Notably, JPMorgan debuted the tokenized money-market fund MONY on Ethereum, which began with a $100 million seed and a minimum investment of $1 million.
Vitalik Buterin has expressed concerns that increasing protocol complexity threatens Ethereum's trustlessness. In response, the foundation is planning measures to reduce complexity and is exploring simpler gas and key-management solutions through smart contract wallets.
Meanwhile, the Ethereum Foundation paused Ecosystem Support Program grants in August to shift focus toward targeted infrastructure funding after awarding nearly $3 million to 105 projects in 2024.
