- Vitalik Buterin said slot times may fall from 12 seconds to as low as 2 seconds.
- Developers target 6–16 second finality using BFT-style upgrades and attester changes.
- Researcher Justin Drake introduced the Strawmap roadmap spanning seven forks through 2029.
Ethereum developers outlined a multi-year plan to cut block times and finality delays, according to core researchers. The proposal, shared publicly in early 2026, details gradual consensus changes across future network upgrades. The effort involves Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and researchers at the Ethereum Foundation.
Gradual Slot Reductions Shape Network Speed
According to Buterin, Ethereum will reduce slot times in cautious, incremental steps. The current 12-second slot may drop to 8, then 6, then 4 seconds. Further reductions to 3 or 2 seconds remain under research review.
Notably, most roadmap upgrades do not depend on slot duration. Therefore, developers plan to lower slot times only after stability improves. This mirrors how Ethereum previously adjusted data blob targets.
Network communication changes support these plans. A redesigned peer-to-peer layer uses erasure coding to reduce latency. Blocks are split into fragments, allowing nodes to rebuild data faster. Testing shows improved propagation without added security risk.
Finality Redesign Targets Seconds, Not Minutes
Ethereum finality currently averages about 16 minutes under the existing Gasper system. However, the roadmap separates slot production from finality logic. This allows both systems to evolve independently.
Buterin said developers aim to adopt a one-round BFT-style finality method. Under this approach, finality could drop to 6–16 seconds. Intermediate steps include one-epoch finality and shorter epochs.
However, some upgrades complicate timing. Features like ePBS and FOCIL reduce safe latency margins. To offset this, researchers propose limiting each slot to 256–1,024 randomly selected attesters. This change removes signature aggregation delays.
Strawmap Frames Long-Term Ethereum Direction
The roadmap appears in a document called the Strawmap, introduced by researcher Justin Drake. The Strawmap spans seven forks through 2029, with updates expected every six months.
It highlights five long-term goals, including fast finality, high throughput, and post-quantum security. Some forks, such as Glamsterdam and Hegotá, already have finalized names.
Importantly, cryptography changes may arrive in stages. Slot production could become quantum-resistant before finality does. According to Buterin, block production would continue even if finality weakens temporarily.
The Strawmap remains a working document. Developers stress it reflects coordination, not fixed outcomes.
