Shift to Targeted Optimization
Ethereum will shift from broad scaling efforts to a focused, targeted optimization strategy for enhanced performance and resource management in 2025. This plan will focus on raising gas limits and optimizing the network’s performance, while managing resource usage more effectively.
Increased Gas Limits and Fees
As part of the upcoming changes, Ethereum plans to raise its gas limit by five times. Gas refers to the transaction fees required to process operations on the network. By increasing the gas limit, Ethereum aims to process more transactions within each block, thus improving the overall throughput.
Vitalik Buterin tweeted that he expects Ethereum to shift next year from “scaling everything” to “targeted optimization”: raising the gas limit by 5x while also increasing gas costs by 5x for operations that are expensive to process on-chain, including creating new storage slots…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) November 26, 2025
However, this increase in gas limit will come with higher gas costs for certain operations. The network will raise gas fees by five times for resource-intensive tasks, including creating new storage slots with the SSTORE opcode, performing specific precompiles, and executing complex smart contracts. This measure is designed to boost network performance while ensuring that resource-heavy operations do not overload Ethereum’s infrastructure.
Optimizing Network Efficiency
The goal of these changes is to increase Ethereum’s throughput while maintaining efficiency. By raising gas costs for expensive operations, Ethereum will discourage inefficiencies that strain the network. The aim is to optimize the network for high-demand tasks, allowing Ethereum to better handle large-scale operations.
This approach will help balance the demand for higher transaction volume with the need to keep the network’s load manageable. Ethereum’s network nodes, which validate transactions and store data, are vital to its operations. Increasing gas costs for certain functions will ensure nodes are not overwhelmed, leading to a more stable and scalable Ethereum network.
Focus on Sustainable Growth
Buterin’s shift to targeted optimization signals a move towards more sustainable growth for Ethereum. The selective adjustments to gas limits and fees will help Ethereum avoid bottlenecks while supporting an expanding user base. With these changes, Ethereum intends to maximize its efficiency without compromising on scalability, positioning the network for long-term success.
This strategic plan reflects Ethereum’s ongoing commitment to evolving its blockchain technology while maintaining high performance. By focusing on resource-intensive operations and optimizing their costs, Ethereum aims to deliver a more effective and robust platform for its users in 2025.