Vitalik Buterin: Overcomplexity is Eroding the "Trustless" Foundation of Blockchain

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin stated that the Ethereum blockchain needs to better explain its features to users in order to achieve true "trustlessness," which is a common challenge faced by all blockchain protocols. "Trustlessness" means that the protocol operates automatically through code without the need for developer oversight. However, if the protocol is too complex for only a few people to participate in its operation, then in practice, others still have to trust that group.

Ethereum itself already possesses trustless characteristics, as transactions and smart contracts are executed by open-source code and a decentralized network of validators. Buterin pointed out in a tweet on X on Wednesday that the network still needs to enhance user understanding. "An important but underrated form of trustlessness is increasing the number of people who can truly understand the entire protocol from top to bottom. Ethereum needs to do better in this regard by simplifying the protocol." When asked about the feasibility of this idea in balancing technical features with user understanding, Buterin stated, "We should be willing to reduce some features at times."