EF: In 2026, the focus shifted from speed to security, establishing strict 128-bit encryption rules

On December 21, the Ethereum Foundation announced it will shift its focus from speed to security in 2026 and roll out strict 128-bit encryption requirements. The foundation noted that while zkEVM has made notable performance gains over the past year, some solutions rely on mathematical assumptions that lack full validation—posing a theoretical risk of on-chain state forgery. As such, the next phase’s top priorities will be bolstering formal verification, attack resistance, and foundational cryptographic security. Moving forward, the foundation will provide security audit and evaluation tools, mandating that zkEVMs meet a minimum 128-bit security strength by 2026 (aligning with current mainstream cryptographic accreditation standards). Though the new rule may slow progress for some scalability projects, the foundation stressed that long-term, attack resilience and credibility are critical to attracting institutions and high-value applications. It’s better to prioritize security first before advancing performance.