Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said Ethereum’s development priorities have shifted significantly since 2023, prompting him to redraw his personal roadmap to align with the Ethereum Foundation’s newly published “Strawmap,” a planning document outlining protocol upgrades through 2029. A key change is the elevation of quantum safety as a near-term priority.
Buterin Redraws Ethereum’s Roadmap
Buterin shared a side-by-side comparison of his 2023 roadmap and the Ethereum Foundation’s Strawmap, highlighting how the network’s focus areas have evolved. The Strawmap serves as a multi-year plan for core protocol work, giving the community greater visibility into the sequencing of upgrades and areas of emphasis.
Quantum Safety Moves Up the Agenda
One notable shift is the prioritization of quantum safety—preparing Ethereum’s cryptography and consensus mechanisms for potential future threats from quantum computing. While current quantum capabilities do not endanger widely used cryptographic standards today, early planning and research are viewed as essential to ensure long-term resilience of user funds and network security.
Planning Horizon Extends Through 2029
The Strawmap outlines expected upgrade tracks through 2029, providing a longer planning horizon for developers, researchers, and infrastructure providers. The document is intended as a living plan that can be refined as research matures and as real-world conditions change.
Context and Next Steps
Ethereum’s roadmap has historically evolved alongside major milestones and research breakthroughs. The 2023 roadmap framed workstreams such as scaling and protocol simplification; the new Strawmap updates those priorities and sequencing based on progress made since then and emerging security considerations. As with prior plans, the Strawmap is expected to iterate with community feedback and ongoing technical validation.