Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has unveiled a radical upgrade proposal that could allow users to run Ethereum nodes on smartphones. This Ethereum node upgrade is designed to dramatically lower the barrier to entry for network participation.
The plan, which focuses on streamlining data storage and synchronization, has quickly become a focal point in the blockchain community, sparking debates over its feasibility and impact on decentralization.
In a recent blog post published on Ethereum’s research forum, Buterin outlined a plan that replaces the current full-replication model with a more user-centric approach. Instead of requiring every node to store the entire global state of the Ethereum blockchain, now surpassing 1.3 terabytes, nodes would only retain data pertinent to the user and request additional data as needed.
“Currently, the overhead is impractically high,” Buterin noted. “Even with existing optimizations, operating a full node is out of reach for most users without cloud infrastructure or specialized hardware.”
Ethereum node upgrade proposes a local-first model
At the heart of this Ethereum Node upgrade is what Buterin describes as a local-first model. Much like a public library system sharing books between branches, Ethereum nodes under this proposal would sync only relevant portions of the blockchain’s history, pulling more data on-demand.
This innovation aligns with Buterin’s decade-long vision: enabling fully verified Ethereum nodes to run on consumer-grade devices. That includes laptops and even smartphones. With this Ethereum Node upgrade, decentralization becomes more than a technical ideal; it becomes a practical reality.
“There’s real value in making it easier to run personal nodes,” Buterin emphasized. “Relying too much on centralized providers risks censorship and weakens the Ethereum ethos.”
The timing of the Ethereum Node upgrade proposal couldn’t be more strategic. The network is gearing up for its Pectra upgrade, described by Ethereum core developers as the most ambitious overhaul to date. Pectra is expected to boost scalability and pave the way for seamless smart contract execution.
Ethereum Foundation researcher Dankrad Feist recently introduced Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 9698, which proposes increasing the gas limit by 100x over the next two years. This change could elevate Ethereum’s throughput to a staggering 2,000 transactions per second (TPS)—a leap from its current capacity.
Combined with the Ethereum Node upgrade, these changes represent a synchronized push to prepare Ethereum for its next growth phase.
Experts weigh in on the Ethereum node upgrade
According to Hudson Jameson, a former Ethereum Foundation community lead, the proposal is “a massive step in the right direction.”
“The Ethereum Node upgrade proposal offers a solution to one of Ethereum’s longest-standing bottlenecks,” Jameson told CoinDesk. “Running a node should not be an elite activity. This change democratizes access.”
Crypto researcher Christine Kim echoed this sentiment on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Vitalik’s proposal could reduce dependence on Infura and Alchemy. That’s huge for censorship resistance.”
The implications of the Ethereum Node upgrade extend beyond blockchain. Earlier this month, former Ethereum core developer Eric Connor highlighted Ethereum’s potential role in addressing the centralization crisis in artificial intelligence (AI).
“AI is plagued by black-box models and centralized data silos,” Connor said. “Ethereum—especially with upgrades like these—could be the backbone for a more transparent and privacy-centric AI ecosystem.”
This crossover between Ethereum and AI may become even more significant as the two technologies mature in tandem. The Ethereum Node upgrade proposal lays the technical groundwork for Ethereum to emerge as a key infrastructure layer for decentralized AI systems.
Critics remain vocal—but solutions are emerging
Still, not everyone in the Ethereum ecosystem is optimistic. In March, crypto VC Nic Carter warned that Layer-2 scaling networks are “siphoning value” from Ethereum’s mainnet while contributing little in return.
He also expressed concern over excessive token issuance, saying:
“ETH was buried in an avalanche of its own tokens. Died by its own hand.”
However, with the Ethereum Node upgrade, the community appears to be acknowledging and responding to some of these criticisms. The move to lighten node infrastructure could reduce central points of failure, cut down costs, and improve community trust.
Realizing the Ethereum node upgrade
While Buterin admitted last year that his dream of universal node operability may take a decade or more, the Ethereum Node upgrade proposal marks a tangible step forward.
Developers, researchers, and validators are now closely analyzing the technical and economic feasibility of the plan. If successful, this upgrade could radically reshape Ethereum’s infrastructure—and perhaps the very notion of blockchain accessibility.
“This isn’t just an upgrade,” said blockchain analyst Laura Shin. “It’s a paradigm shift in how we think about participation and sovereignty in Ethereum.”
As Ethereum moves forward with Pectra and EIP-9698, the Ethereum Node upgrade could become the defining enhancement of 2025, redefining who gets to participate in the Ethereum ecosystem and how.
The Bit Gazette will continue to observe the market and report as events unfold.
