Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has called for the removal of the modular exponentiation precompile (modexp), a component he originally designed that now limits zero-knowledge proof generation and slows down layer-2 networks.
According to Buterin, modexp creates bottlenecks up to 50 times worse than an average block when generating cryptographic proofs for the ZK-EVM. He proposed replacing it with standard EVM code—more expensive in gas fees but far more efficient for verification systems. The function is mainly used in RSA processes and impacts only about 0.01% of users, so its removal aims to simplify the protocol and improve network stability.
The change would be part of a new Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) that would redefine how the network executes computationally intensive cryptographic operations. Buterin suggests that projects requiring modexp functionality should instead use SNARK-based systems to remain compatible without sacrificing performance.
The Ethereum Foundation has launched the Ethereum for Institutions program and the Privacy Cluster, a 47-member initiative coordinated by Igor Barinov, to accelerate solutions focused on confidentiality, selective identity, and regulatory compliance.
This adjustment aims to prepare Ethereum for the widespread adoption of zero-knowledge proofs and institutional applications, prioritizing scalability and privacy over legacy features with minimal usage.
Source: https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/1985396529172017156
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