Anatoly Yakovenko, Vitalik Buterin Debate Whether Blockchains Should Keep Evolving

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-01-19Last updated on 2026-01-19

Abstract

In a January 2026 debate, Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin and Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko presented opposing views on blockchain evolution. Buterin argued that Ethereum should achieve "ossification"—a stable, trustless state requiring no further upgrades, passing the "walkaway test" to function independently of developers. Yakovenko countered that blockchains must continuously evolve to remain useful and avoid stagnation, emphasizing that Solana should incorporate community-driven upgrades addressing real user needs, without relying on a single team. The discussion highlights two contrasting visions: long-term stability versus iterative adaptation for competitiveness.

The Public debate started in mid january 2026 between Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana labs and Vitalik Buterin, Creator of Ethereum. Vitalik Buterin shared his view on social media that Ethereum should be stable and reach the ossified state, where it should still run without the constant upgrades. Yakovenko disagreed completely by saying that the blockchain must continue evolving to remain useful and avoid stagnation.

Yakovenko’s Case for Continuous, Community-Driven Blockchain Evolution

On replying to Vitalik Buterin, Analogy argued that any blockchain that stops upgrading will eventually die. The technology and users need to change. This debate started after Vitalik posted the tweet on X that Ethereum should aim for long-term stability, where there should not be the constant upgrades. Yakovenko also suggested that Solana must reject most upgrade ideas and accept only those that solve the real problem for the users and developers. He added that the future of Solana should be built by contributors outside Solana Labs to avoid permanent dependence on a single team.

Vitalik’s Vision of Blockchain Ossification and Long-Term Trustless Stability

On the other side, the creator of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, says that the blockchain should reach the point where it does not need constant upgrades and calls this level as the Ossification. This means that the blockchain becomes so stable that it doesn’t need regular upgrades and can run safely for many years. He says that Ethereum should pass something called the Walkaway Test. This means that Ethereum should work even if the developers stop upgrading. He believes trustless systems need stability, and if there are constant upgrades, then the users must depend on the developers forever.

This debate shows two different visions of future blockchains. Vitalik Buterin believes that ETH should become more stable and work reliably without constant upgrades, and Anatoly Yakovenko believes that Solana must keep evolving and continuous upgrades are necessary to stay useful and competitive. This difference highlights two contrasting approaches to how blockchains can survive and grow over time.

Highlighted Crypto News:

‌Binance Australia Restores AUD Deposits, Withdrawals After 2-Year Pause

TagsBlockchainvitalik Buterin

Related Questions

QWhat is the core disagreement between Anatoly Yakovenko and Vitalik Buterin regarding blockchain development?

AAnatoly Yakovenko believes blockchains must continue evolving with continuous upgrades to remain useful and avoid stagnation, while Vitalik Buterin argues that a blockchain should reach a stable, 'ossified' state where it no longer needs constant upgrades to run reliably and trustlessly.

QAccording to Vitalik Buterin, what is the 'Walkaway Test' for Ethereum?

AThe 'Walkaway Test' is the idea that Ethereum should be able to continue functioning safely and reliably even if its developers completely stop working on upgrades, ensuring it remains a trustless and trust-minimized platform.

QHow does Anatoly Yakovenko suggest Solana should handle upgrades to avoid dependence on a single team?

AYakovenko suggests that Solana should reject most upgrade ideas and only accept those that solve real problems for users and developers, and that its future should be built by contributors outside of Solana Labs to avoid permanent dependence on a single team.

QWhat term does Vitalik Buterin use to describe the ideal, stable state for Ethereum that does not require constant upgrades?

AVitalik Buterin uses the term 'Ossification' to describe the ideal state where a blockchain becomes so stable that it doesn't need regular upgrades and can run safely for many years.

QWhat was the catalyst that started the public debate between Yakovenko and Buterin in January 2026?

AThe debate started after Vitalik Buterin posted on social media (X) that Ethereum should aim for long-term stability and reach an ossified state, a view which Anatoly Yakovenko publicly disagreed with.

Related Reads

Ripple’s RLUSD Is Not A Threat To XRP’s Future, Here’s Why

Following the announcement of Ripple's stablecoin, RLUSD, rumors spread that XRP would become less useful. However, crypto analyst XFinanceBull refuted these claims, explaining that RLUSD is designed to complement, not replace, XRP. He emphasized that both assets serve distinct roles within the XRP Ledger (XRPL) ecosystem. RLUSD is expected to attract significant capital and liquidity to the XRPL, which will structurally benefit XRP. Increased stablecoin trading activity creates more payment routes and leads to more XRP being burned. Additionally, XRP acts as a bridge currency in trades involving RLUSD, indirectly driving demand for the asset. Ripple’s former CTO, David Schwartz, further clarified that RLUSD brings more credible assets to the ledger, expanding use cases and developer opportunities. The auto-bridging feature on the XRPL DEX uses XRP to facilitate efficient trades between different currencies, meaning growing RLUSD adoption reinforces demand for XRP. Despite short-term declines, XRP’s utility is strengthened by real transaction flows, not diminished by the stablecoin’s introduction.

bitcoinist11m ago

Ripple’s RLUSD Is Not A Threat To XRP’s Future, Here’s Why

bitcoinist11m ago

BitGo IPO signals Wall Street’s growing appetite for crypto infrastructure

Crypto custody firm BitGo has raised $212.8 million in its U.S. IPO, marking the first major crypto-native public offering of 2026. Priced at $18 per share, above its marketed range, the company is valued at approximately $2.1 billion. The listing reflects a shift in investor interest from speculative trading toward regulated infrastructure providers that offer custody, settlement, and compliance services. BitGo’s steady revenue model, tied to assets under custody, aligns more closely with traditional fintech than volatile crypto markets. This IPO follows a trend from 2025, where over ten crypto infrastructure firms went public, signaling growing public market appetite for compliant, revenue-generating blockchain businesses. BitGo’s debut may set the tone for 2026, indicating that crypto infrastructure is moving closer to the financial mainstream.

ambcrypto1h ago

BitGo IPO signals Wall Street’s growing appetite for crypto infrastructure

ambcrypto1h ago

Is It Ethereum? BlackRock CEO Wants ‘One Blockchain’ For Tokenization

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, speaking at the World Economic Forum, advocated for the rapid adoption of tokenization and called for a single common blockchain standard to streamline financial markets, reduce fees, and potentially reduce corruption. While he did not explicitly name a specific blockchain, BlackRock’s existing products and research strongly point to Ethereum as the leading candidate. The firm’s Ethereum-based tokenized fund, BUIDL, and its public-market crypto ETFs—including iShares Ethereum Trust—highlight its strategic alignment with Ethereum. BlackRock’s recent research further suggests Ethereum could serve as the foundational "toll road" for tokenization, noting that over 65% of tokenized assets currently reside on the Ethereum network.

bitcoinist1h ago

Is It Ethereum? BlackRock CEO Wants ‘One Blockchain’ For Tokenization

bitcoinist1h ago

TRON: $8 mln investment, new integrations – so why is TRX stuck?

Justin Sun made an $8 million strategic investment in Riverdot Inc., bringing satUSD to the TRON network. This allows users to mint the token 1:1 using assets like USDT, USDD, and USD1, with cross-chain backing. The integration connects satUSD to TRON platforms such as SUN.io, JustLend, and WinkLink, and expands support to TRX, BTC, and other tokens. Additionally, TRON announced two key integrations: WalletConnect, which links over 600 wallets and 70,000 dApps to its ecosystem, and Blockaid, an on-chain security platform providing real-time threat detection and transaction validation. However, despite these developments, TRX’s price remained range-bound. After a brief push toward $0.31, it faced rejection and retraced by about 4%, stabilizing around $0.29–$0.30. Technical indicators like RSI and MACD showed neutral and flattening signals, suggesting consolidation amid recent announcements.

ambcrypto1h ago

TRON: $8 mln investment, new integrations – so why is TRX stuck?

ambcrypto1h ago

Decoding ARK’s ‘Big Ideas 2026’: Can Bitcoin really capture 70% of market?

ARK Invest's "Big Ideas 2026" report posits that the crypto market is undergoing a major structural shift, projecting digital assets could reach $28 trillion by 2030, with Bitcoin capturing 70% of that value—potentially reaching a $16 trillion valuation. The report highlights 2025 as a turning point, where political events—including U.S. regulatory easing and state-level Bitcoin reserve initiatives—cemented Bitcoin’s role as a strategic reserve asset rather than a speculative one. Bitcoin’s risk-adjusted returns outperformed other major cryptos, and its dominance near 60% reflects institutional confidence. Additionally, stablecoins saw $3.5 trillion in transaction volume, while tokenized real-world assets grew to $18.9 billion, with potential to reach $11 trillion by 2030.

ambcrypto2h ago

Decoding ARK’s ‘Big Ideas 2026’: Can Bitcoin really capture 70% of market?

ambcrypto2h ago

Trading

Spot
Futures
活动图片