Ethereum could become a fully zero-knowledge proof-based protocol in 3 to 5 years, Joe Lubin says

Consensys CEO Joseph Lubin argues that one way for the rollup-centric roadmap to succeed is to scale the Ethereum base layer.

"I'm a big fan of the rollup-centric roadmap," Lubin told The Block in an interview. "There are evolutions or innovations that are happening that are going to make the roadmap really powerful, or rollups really powerful."

This includes "beefing up the Layer 1" via initiatives like "Lean Ethereum," the long-term plan proposed by Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake to simplify and strengthen the mainchain using cutting-edge zero-knowledge cryptography, and rolling out ZK proving.

He estimated that Ethereum could become a fully "zero-knowledge proof-based protocol" in 3 to 5 years, which would not only improve the base layer but also improve the composability between Ethereum and its Layer 2s.

Over the past several months, many of Ethereum’s key leaders have reevaluated the so-called rollup-centric roadmap, the plan targeted years ago to solve Ethereum’s scalability challenges through an ecosystem of semi-interconnected blockchains that all resolve down to the base layer.