The Ethereum team unveiled a new virtual machine optimized for ZKP processes and post-quantum security of the blockchain network. The development is part of Ethereum’s long-term roadmap.
At the latest Ethereum consensus layer developers’ meeting, leanVM was presented. It’s a new virtual machine designed to handle zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) and protect the network against potential quantum computer attacks.
leanVM is envisioned as the foundation for radically reducing scaling costs and accelerating recursion. According to the project’s author, the current speed is 2.7 seconds on a CPU, with the target being a tenfold improvement. Another key goal of leanVM is to efficiently process post-quantum algorithms. Instead of simply verifying individual XMSS signatures, the new virtual machine will perform recursive aggregation, combining thousands of signatures into one compact proof.
Key features of leanVM include:
- A minimal architecture of just four instructions for the instruction set architecture (ISA), making it extremely simple and suitable for formal verification.
- Use of multilinear STARKs for faster and more compact consensus compared to classical schemes.
- A new sampling technique that reduces commitment costs and increases efficiency.
- A full verifier implementation in about 1,000 lines of Python code, simplifying auditing and testing.
- Validators being able to run even on low-powered devices such as a $7 Raspberry Pi Pico, while aggregators can rely on CPU/GPU to deliver high throughput.
The development of leanVM is integrated into Ethereum’s ten-year strategic roadmap, presented last month. The new Lean Ethereum architecture will remain aligned with Ethereum’s roadmap but will evolve in parallel, without being deployed directly into the mainnet.
In 2025, the Ethereum network underwent the Pectra hard fork, and two major upgrades — Fusaka and Glamsterdam — are scheduled for November. Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin previously spoke about the shift toward a new virtual machine and radical technical changes.
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