Vitalik Buterin Suggests Ethereum Migration To Poseidon Hash, Here’s Why

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has encouraged researchers to participate in the ongoing Poseidon cryptanalysis program. He also stated that the ETH blockchain could consider adopting the Poseidon hash function to improve the platform’s efficiency. Buterin’s comments come as Poseidon grants to researchers have been extended further to March 15. Some critics have rejected Buterin’s proposal citing its slower performance and reliance on specific prime fields with Poseidon hash function.

Vitalik Buterin Urges Ethereum Researchers to Join Poseidon Hash Function

Ethereum co-founder recently urged Ethereum blockchain researchers to participate in the ongoing Poseidon cryptanalysis program, while emphasizing the importance of scrutinizing its security properties.

In a statement, Buterin highlighted that Ethereum is seriously considering adopting the Poseidon hash function to improve zk-prover efficiency, which is a critical component for enhancing zero-knowledge proof (ZK) technologies on the network.

“Having more information about its security properties is extremely high value,” noted Vitalik Buterin. He also underscored the need for thorough research before the implementation of the potential upgrade. This move reflects Ethereum’s commitment to optimizing scalability and privacy through advanced cryptographic methods. Vitalik Buterin’s comments come at a time when developers are gearing up for the Ethereum Pectra upgrade.

About Poseidon – A Hash Function for ZK-Proof Systems

Poseidon is basically an algebraic hash function that is gaining traction due to its innovative design tailored to zero-knowledge (ZK) proof systems. Unlike the traditional hashing algorithms which rely on Bitwise operations, Poseidon utilizes addition and multiplication of elements within finite fields, enabling enhanced efficiency in cryptographic computations.

This hash function is specifically optimized for practical computational integrity-proof systems such as SNARKs, STARKs, and Bulletproofs. Poseidon demonstrates exceptional performance in scenarios requiring the proof of preimage knowledge under a hash function. This also makes it a valuable tool for advancing the efficiency and scalability of zero-knowledge technologies. Its algebraic approach is a promising step forward in cryptographic research and applications.

Community Members Disagree With Buterin’s Views

Ye Zhang, a prominent voice in blockchain cryptography, has expressed skepticism about Vitalik Buterin’s views on transitioning Ethereum to the Poseidon hash function, Zhang highlighted several critical trade-offs and limitations that come along with this transition.

He noted that while Poseidon offers zero-knowledge (ZK) prover-friendly optimizations, it comes with two major caveats:

1. Complex Configurations: Poseidon’s reliance on specific prime fields limits its adaptability and narrows the choices for SNARK systems.
2. Performance Bottlenecks: Compared to widely-used hash functions like Blake or Keccak, Poseidon is significantly slower, which could create major performance issues unless Layer 2 solutions are willing to compromise on compatibility.

Zhang’s concerns underline the challenges Ethereum faces in balancing efficiency, compatibility, and performance as it explores migrating to more ZK-friendly cryptographic standards.

Recently, Buterin also showered praises on Layer-2 solutions like Sony’s Soneium adding that it would be useful for business applications on the platform.