Vitalik said Ethereum must continue to function even if its creators are gone, and he has a plan to get there.
A new “walk-away test” could redefine how Ethereum is upgraded, expanded, and secured over time.
From quantum resistance to ossification, Vitalik wants Ethereum to be built to last for decades.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin wants the network to survive without him. In a new statement, he introduced what he called a “walk-away test.”
The idea is simple. Even if all developers disappeared tomorrow, Ethereum would have to keep running.
“Ethereum itself needs to pass the walk-away test.” Buterin said. “Ethereum needs to get to a place where it can be ossified if we want to.”
He likened the difference to owning a hammer versus relying on a service. Once you buy the hammer, it’s yours. It works whether the company exists or not. Buterin wants Ethereum to work the same way.
Vitalik’s 7 checklists
Buterin outlined seven upgrades the network needs to accomplish over the next few years.
- Fully quantum resistant
- Scalability with ZK-EVM and PeerDAS
- State architecture that lasts for decades
- Complete account abstraction
- Gas schedule without DoS vulnerabilities
- Proof-of-stake model that stays decentralized
- Censorship-resistant block construction
He was outspoken about not delaying quantum security for short-term gains.
“Being able to say that the current Ethereum protocol is cryptographically secure for 100 years is something we should strive to achieve as soon as possible.” he said.
Also read: Vitalik Buterin admits Bitcoin Maxis was “far ahead” of crypto’s biggest threats
what this means Ethereum holder
buterin see Ethereum As long-term trustless collateral. He pointed out use cases such as EthereumA backed stablecoin that doesn’t rely on strong governance.
The goal is to reach a point where future upgrades are done through parameter changes rather than continuous protocol overhauls. Verifiers will vote on scaling adjustments in the same way they vote on gas limits today.
Community reaction
The cryptocurrency community supported this vision.
One user called it a “perfect fit,” adding that prioritizing long-term robustness over permanent tweaks makes it a true foundation for decentralized apps.
I completely agree. The true value of blockchain is revealed when it continues to function even when teams disappear or incentives change. Protocols should behave like durable infrastructure, not fragile platforms. Trust minimization is incomplete if users cannot leave with functionality intact.
The best.— The Algorand Guy (@TheAlgorandGuy) January 12, 2026
When will this happen?
Buterin expects at least one box to be checked a year. Ideally more than that. He wants to get the heavy lifting done now so that Ethereum can run reliably for decades to come.
“Once you know what is really right, do the right thing once.” he said.
He ended with a line the community is familiar with: “Ethereum goes hard. This is Gwei.”
