Ethereum is shifting its approach to base-layer cryptography. The network is moving away from the Poseidon hash function, once favored for its zero-knowledge proof efficiency, and instead backing more conventional hashes like SHA and BLAKE. Justin Drake from the Ethereum Foundation confirmed the switch, noting recent progress in SNARK tooling.
In simple terms, improvements in proving systems mean that established hashes such as SHA and BLAKE are now much more practical for zero-knowledge integration, closing much of the efficiency gap that originally made Poseidon attractive.
So rather than building major protocol upgrades around a specialized hash function, Ethereum’s core developers are choosing tools that are more widely understood, tested, and supported. This marks a clear pivot in Ethereum’s base-layer design: prioritizing standardization and maintainability over a more customized cryptographic approach.
The immediate impact for users is subtle, with Ethereum’s architecture evolving behind the scenes. Price action around Ethereum remains relatively quiet, underscoring that this is a protocol design story, not a trading event, for now.
Ethereum’s shift from Poseidon to SHA and BLAKE is the key change to watch for near-term ZK proving efficiency.