Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has recently recognized that Bitcoin possesses significant advantages over Ethereum regarding its protocol design and level of decentralization.
Key Takeaways:
- Buterin asserts Bitcoin surpasses Ethereum in terms of code simplicity, node count, and its independence from remote procedure calls (RPC).
- Despite its advancements, Ethereum’s Layer 2 solutions still depend on intermediaries, preventing full decentralization.
- Ethereum lags behind Bitcoin in terms of network stability and decentralized structure.
In a post on X dated June 4, Buterin engaged with a discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of Ethereum. During this thread, participants claimed that while Ethereum excels in censorship resistance, it struggles with issues related to transaction throughput. Buterin concurred, remarking, “There’s some aspects of this where bitcoin is ahead imo.”
Buterin Highlights Bitcoin’s Code Simplicity
According to Buterin, Bitcoin’s architecture benefits from a simpler codebase, resulting in fewer protocol changes, a higher number of nodes, and a diminished dependence on third-party RPC services like Infura, Alchemy, and Ankr. In contrast, Ethereum’s setup, which includes smart contracts and the Ethereum Virtual Machine, necessitates more advanced infrastructure.
Ethereum has seen approximately 20 significant network updates, with its latest, the Pectra upgrade, occurring on May 8. In comparison, Bitcoin’s base protocol has remained largely unchanged.
Buterin emphasized that the lightweight nature of Bitcoin’s code facilitates easier auditing and maintenance. Its minimal hardware requirements empower a broader segment of users to operate full nodes, thereby enhancing network decentralization and resistance to censorship.
Furthermore, Buterin tackled the topic of Ethereum’s Layer 2 ecosystem, clarifying that claims of resolved cross-chain interoperability are premature. He stated, “It’s not solved until cross-L2 actions can be as censorship-resistant, trustless and intermediary-free as within-L2 actions.” Currently, he noted that cross-Layer 2 interactions still require intermediaries, undermining the desired level of decentralization within Ethereum.
Additionally, he reiterated Ethereum’s “no regression principle,” asserting that native ETH transfers on Layer 1 are designed to remain censorship-resistant, trustless, and free from intermediaries.
> I believe Ethereum is leading in terms of CR and security.
There's some aspects of this where bitcoin is ahead imo
(eg. less code complexity, lower rate of protocol change, higher full node count, less dependence on RPCs)
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) June 3, 2025
Buterin’s observations underscore a persistent tradeoff in the blockchain domain. While Ethereum incorporates innovative features such as Proof of Stake, rollups, and mechanisms to reduce miner extractable value (MEV), it still trails Bitcoin in areas of protocol simplicity and decentralization of nodes.
Buterin Advocates for Simplifying Ethereum’s Protocol
Recently in May, Buterin proposed a substantial revision of Ethereum’s base layer. This initiative aims to simplify the architecture of the protocol to enhance security, scalability, and sustainability over time.
In a blog post titled “Simplifying the L1,” published on May 3, Buterin outlined pathways inspired by Bitcoin’s minimalist design, focusing on reducing the technical complexity that has accumulated since the network’s inception.
His vision encompasses reevaluating Ethereum’s core layers, including consensus, execution, and shared components, with the intent to streamline increasingly complex processes.
Buterin argued that excessive complexity has not only elongated development timelines but has also raised maintenance costs and the likelihood of bugs. Additionally, he introduced a new framework intended to make it considerably easier for average users to operate Ethereum nodes by lowering the hardware and storage requirements necessary to connect with the network.
The proposal suggests a transformation in the way nodes manage data retrieval and storage, transitioning from full data replication to a more user-friendly model.
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