Researchers from the Ethereum Foundation have formally verified a new protocol model that separates transaction finality from block production and fork choice. This structural change aims to reduce the current 16-minute confirmation time to under a minute, with a long-term goal of achieving finality in mere seconds.
The current system requires two full epochs to finalize, with each epoch comprising 32 slots of 12 seconds each. Under the new architecture, block production would be managed by smaller committees of 256 to 512 validators, while a separate finality gadget, maintained by the full validator set, operates on a parallel track.
The model was verified using Lean 4, a proof assistant that ensures mathematical guarantees for safety and finalization. Researcher Ben Edgington outlined a roadmap in May 2026, which involves decoupling the processes first, followed by incremental enhancements to finality.
Future developments may incorporate protocols like Minmitt and Goldfish, which focus on single-round finality and dynamic availability. These improvements are part of the broader roadmap articulated by Vitalik Buterin, with implementation targets set for 2029.
The modular design is intended to improve network competitiveness, particularly for high-value transactions and cross-chain bridging. Additionally, the architecture is designed to facilitate the integration of quantum-resistant cryptographic primitives in the future.
