Ethereum's core developers are exploring architectural changes that could fundamentally alter how network participants verify transactions. At the heart of the discussion is a proposal to distribute computational work more efficiently, potentially lowering the barriers to becoming a validator. This initiative was the focus of a recent specialized gathering of the protocol's builders. On February 11, 2026, researchers and developers convened for the inaugural L1-zkEVM Workshop. The central topic was EIP-8025, titled "Optional Execution Proofs," a concept emerging from the Ethereum Foundation's L1-zkEVM ... (full story)