Vitalik Buterin Pushes for Poseidon Hash Function in Ethereum—What Are the Benefits?

Jakarta, Pintu News – Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin recently invited researchers to dig deeper into the Poseidon hash function. This was done in order to improve the efficiency of the zero-knowledge proof system that is key to Ethereum’s (ETH) scalability and privacy.

Buterin emphasized the importance of security analysis before the full integration of this hash function into the Ethereum (ETH) infrastructure.

Introduction to Poseidon Hash Functions

The Poseidon hash function, introduced in 2019, is specifically designed to improve efficiency in zero-knowledge proof systems.

Read also: SEC Weighs Grayscale’s Bold Move: Staking in Ethereum ETFs on the Horizon?

Unlike traditional hash functions such as SHA-256 or Keccak that Ethereum (ETH) uses today, Poseidon optimizes arithmetic calculations rather than bitwise operations. This makes it more suitable for applications such as SNARKs and STARKs, where verification of the correctness of hash calculations is often a bottleneck.

Poseidon uses addition and multiplication of elements in a finite field, which allows for higher cryptographic computational efficiency.

However, some critics, such as Ye Zhang, highlight that while Poseidon offers advantages in terms of efficiency, there are compromises in terms of performance and compatibility with certain prime fields used in these hash functions.

Advantages of Migrating to Poseidon

Migrating to Poseidon hash functions is expected to improve the efficiency and speed of zero-knowledge proofs, which is critical for Ethereum (ETH) scalability and privacy enhancement. With a design optimized for arithmetic circuits, Poseidon can reduce the computational overhead that is often a constraint in such applications.

Vitalik Buterin has invited researchers and cryptographers to analyze the security of Poseidon before its adoption, as part of the continuous improvement plan for Ethereum (ETH).

In addition, the proposal to add Poseidon as a pre-compiled contract in the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is still in the draft stage. This implementation is expected to improve interoperability between the EVM and zero-knowledge proof rollups, although it still requires “battle trials” to prove its safety.

Community Reaction and Next Steps

Despite the support from Vitalik Buterin, some community members expressed their concerns towards this transition. The main criticisms revolve around slower performance and reliance on certain prime fields that may not be as efficient as traditional hashes in some cases.

Also read: XRP News: Ripple Devs Share Roadmap for Institutional DeFi on XRP Ledger!

However, with the extension of the Poseidon cryptographic analysis program until March 15, more research is expected to address these concerns. Ethereum (ETH) continues to explore possible implementations of Poseidon in the context of broader upgrades, including the Pectra upgrade that will launch on April 8, 2025.

The upgrade aims to improve scalability, increase account abstraction, improve layer-2 efficiency, and increase validator rewards. This follows the successful Dencun hard fork implemented in March 2024, which significantly reduced transaction fees for the layer-2 network.

All in all, with the various considerations and potential offered by the Poseidon hash function, the future of Ethereum (ETH) seems to be increasingly integrated with more advanced cryptographic solutions.

Despite the challenges and concerns, this proactive step in testing and analyzing the security and efficiency of new technologies demonstrates Ethereum’s (ETH) commitment to continuously improving its platform.

That’s the latest information about crypto news today. Get more information about crypto academy from beginner to expert level only at Pintu Academy and enrich your knowledge about the world of crypto and blockchain.

Follow us on Google News to get the latest information about crypto and blockchain technology. Enjoy an easy and secure crypto trading experience by downloading Pintu Crypto via Google Play Store or App Store now.

Experience web trading with advanced trading tools such as pro charting, various order types, and portfolio tracker only at Pintu Pro. Click Register Pintu if you don’t have an account or click Login Pintu if you are already registered.

*Disclaimer

This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities have high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.

Reference:

• Coingape. Vitalik Buterin Suggests Ethereum Migration to Poseidon Hash, Here’s Why. Accessed on February 27, 2025
• Crypto News. Ethereum Explores Migration to Poseidon Hash Function Ahead of Pectra Upgrade. Accessed on February 27, 2025
• U.Today. Vitalik Buterin Reveals Ethereum May Adopt Poseidon Hash, Details. Accessed on February 27, 2025