 ▲ Ethereum (ETH) |
The Ethereum Foundation has selected the establishment of a robust security framework to counter quantum computing threats and a breakthrough improvement in transaction processing speed as its top priorities for 2026, moving to take the lead in setting technical standards for the global blockchain ecosystem.
According to cryptocurrency-focused media outlet Cointelegraph, on February 18 (local time), the Ethereum Foundation announced its protocol priorities for 2026 through its blog, highlighting quantum-resistant security and an expanded gas limit as key objectives. The Ethereum (ETH) Foundation has launched a dedicated Post-Quantum (PQ) response team to protect the network from potential future quantum computer attacks and initiated a multi-billion-dollar security initiative. This is interpreted as a preemptive move to secure long-term trust in the digital asset market.
In terms of network scalability, the Ethereum Foundation has set a goal of increasing the gas limit—representing the maximum amount of computational work a block can process—to over 100 million. Following a 2025 network upgrade that doubled the gas limit from 30 million to 60 million, crypto educator Anthony Sassano emphasized that raising the gas limit to 180 million in 2026 should be considered not the best-case scenario but the minimum standard. A substantial increase in the gas limit is expected to lower transaction fees and improve processing speed, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the broader ecosystem.
The Ethereum Foundation is also accelerating technological advancements to improve user experience. It plans to enhance the convenience of smart wallets through native Account Abstraction and focus on enabling seamless interoperability between different blockchains. In particular, its ultimate goal is to create an environment where users feel as though they are using a single chain through trust-minimized interactions among Layer 2 (L2) solutions. To this end, the Glamsterdam network upgrade is scheduled for the first half of 2026.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has expanded the technological horizon by presenting a future vision for the convergence of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI). Buterin suggested that AI could be utilized as a tool to improve market efficiency, strengthen financial security, and support human agency. While developments may begin with ordinary ideas in the short term, the long-term vision envisions AI complementing rather than replacing human capabilities as it integrates with the Ethereum ecosystem.
Mario Havel of the Ethereum Foundation stated that the announcement was slightly delayed due to the preparation of the most extensive roadmap in its history, expressing strong confidence in the 2026 projects. As the digital asset market enters a phase of technological maturity, Ethereum has positioned itself to move beyond being merely a currency and to serve as a central pillar of global digital infrastructure. Global investors and developers are closely watching Ethereum’s efforts to simultaneously secure quantum-level security and near-unlimited scalability.
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