Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin made a rare public admission this week. He said the Ethereum Foundation spent years underestimating the importance of its peer-to-peer or P2P networking layer. For a long time, the focus stayed on cryptoeconomics, block design and consensus systems. Meanwhile, the actual network layer that moves data between nodes received far less attention. Vitalik said he often criticized this imbalance internally.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said he long criticized the Ethereum Foundation’s lack of P2P networking expertise—over-indexing on cryptoeconomics, BFT consensus, and block-layer work while taking the network layer for granted—but that this has now changed. He cited PeerDAS…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 9, 2025
Now, he believes that the problem is finally being fixed. The turning point is PeerDAS, a major upgrade to Ethereum’s data propagation system. He credited developer Raul V. and multiple teams at the Ethereum Foundation for pushing the improvement through. In his words, the work behind PeerDAS has been “heroic.”
What PeerDAS Changes Inside Ethereum
PeerDAS stands for Peer-to-Peer Data Availability Sampling. In simple terms, it helps Ethereum move block data across the network faster and more reliably. Ethereum relies on thousands of nodes to stay decentralized. Each node must receive data quickly to verify blocks and keep the chain in sync. Slow data flow can cause delays, missed blocks and higher risks during congestion.
Chart 1 – Delta from fastest column (intraslot, ms) shared by @VitalikButerin
PeerDAS fixes this by spreading data across the network in a smarter way. Specifically, it allows nodes to verify that full block data exists without needing to download everything, thereby saving time and bandwidth. Furthermore, Vitalik shared performance charts showing how evenly and quickly data now spreads across the network. In fact, most delays stay close to the fastest possible time, showing fewer bottlenecks and smoother propagation. As a result, Ethereum gains better speed, stronger reliability and lower stress during high traffic.
Faster Speed, Stronger Resilience, and More Privacy
PeerDAS does not improve just one area. It targets three at once. First, it boosts propagation speed. Data reaches nodes faster. This reduces the risk of reorgs and missed attestations. It also opens the door for shorter block times in the future. Second, it improves resilience. Even if some nodes go offline or face delays, the network keeps flowing. Data reaches enough validators to keep the consensus steady.
Third, it strengthens network-layer privacy. This is a big deal. Unlike many privacy efforts, which focus only on apps and wallets, PeerDAS pushes privacy deeper into the actual network pipes. Consequently, that makes Ethereum harder to monitor or censor at the infrastructure level. Developers say this balance is delicate. Indeed, speed, privacy, and decentralization often fight each other; however, PeerDAS tries to raise all three at once.
Community Reaction Signals a Shift in Priorities
The response from builders and researchers was fast and loud. Many said this upgrade matters more than flashy features like sharding or zero-knowledge virtual machines. Some call networking the easiest way to cut latency and improve real-world user experience. Others praised Ethereum for finally treating infrastructure like a first-class priority. Raul V. confirmed that multiple teams worked together across clients, networking layers, and protocol design. Specifically, he said tighter integration and smarter data flow now drive the roadmap.
Moreover, more upgrades are already in progress. The focus remains clear: Ethereum wants faster blocks, stronger privacy, and real scalability without sacrificing decentralization. Consequently, Vitalik’s message carried weight. Indeed, Ethereum is no longer taking its network layer for granted. For a chain built on trustless coordination, that shift could define its next era.
