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Ethereum Foundation Sets 2026 Security Deadlines for zkEVMs, Mandating 128-Bit Provable Guarantees

The shift prioritizes formal cryptographic soundness after research downgraded prior assumptions, paving a path to institutional readiness.

Overview

  • Three-stage roadmap requires soundcalc integration by February 2026, establishing a shared, research-driven security baseline.
  • May 2026 checkpoint targets 100‑bit provable security with proofs under 600 KB and documentation of recursion architecture.
  • End‑2026 goal mandates 128‑bit provable security, proofs under 300 KB, and formal arguments validating recursive proof structures.
  • The pivot follows a year of major performance gains, with proof times falling from minutes to seconds and most blocks provable in under 10 seconds.
  • New techniques such as WHIR, JaggedPCS, and improved recursion topologies are cited as enabling the tighter security targets as Ethereum courts institutional adoption.