Updated on:12/07/2025 05:06 PM 
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently published an extensive analysis examining which capabilities should be officially integrated into the Ethereum protocol versus implemented as layer-2 solutions. This ongoing discussion has intensified as the blockchain network continues its evolution toward greater scalability and functionality.
In Ethereum's formative years, Buterin explains, the network aimed to maintain its foundational layer as streamlined and minimalistic as possible. This approach aligned with the Unix philosophy of developing uncomplicated yet adaptable software systems. The vision was for Ethereum to establish a robust infrastructure for decentralized applications, with most functionality realized through smart contracts deployed atop the base protocol.
As development progressed, however, community debate has emerged regarding whether additional features should be directly incorporated into Ethereum's core protocol. But what precisely does "enshrining" entail? Buterin characterizes it as establishing functionality as an integral component of the official Ethereum specification that all client developers must implement. Conversely, "de-enshrining" involves relocating a feature from the base layer to be managed by smart contracts instead.
Buterin evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of enshrining several potential features within the Ethereum protocol. Protocol-level integration can deliver enhanced efficiency, improved security measures, and greater resistance to censorship. Nevertheless, this approach also risks increasing transaction costs, complicating governance processes, and reducing the protocol's adaptability to address unforeseen user requirements in the future.
Buterin utilizes account abstraction as a case study to examine this discourse. Earlier proposals such as EIP-86 attempted to structure transactions as straightforward virtual machine calls, minimizing protocol complexity while increasing miner responsibilities. More contemporary approaches like ERC-4337 initially operate outside the protocol but may eventually incorporate core components directly for efficiency and security benefits.
Buterin examines the potential enshrinement of several additional features:
Integrating features directly into the Ethereum protocol can provide performance benefits, security enhancements, and censorship resistance. However, this approach may also overextend the protocol's governance capabilities and limit its flexibility to accommodate unforeseen user needs.
Within the Ethereum ecosystem, varying perspectives have emerged on this strategic question. Pragmatists may prioritize enshrining features that deliver immediate user benefits, even if they introduce governance complexity. Conversely, purists argue that maintaining an extremely lean base layer preserves Ethereum's fundamental vision as a decentralized application platform.
Enterprise users and institutional stakeholders seek rapid enshrinement of features supporting their specific use cases, while decentralization advocates express concerns about potential unaccountable control by privileged groups. Developers desire expanded base layer functionality to streamline application development, yet security researchers caution that protocol enshrinement might lock in technically suboptimal solutions.
As Buterin thoughtfully articulates, navigating these strategic tradeoffs will become increasingly complex as Ethereum's diverse user base grows and scalability requirements intensify. However, revisiting core principles can provide valuable anchors for these discussions as technological progress necessitates periodic reassessment. The complete blog post, "Should Ethereum Embrace Greater Protocol Enshrinement?", offers comprehensive insights worth exploring.
Ultimately, Ethereum's flexible "soft fork" mechanism enables continuous evolution based on emerging community priorities. Buterin's analysis thus provides an essential framework for evaluating options and building consensus as Ethereum advances toward its ambitious long-term vision.
