The Ethereum Foundation has released a comprehensive assessment outlining major areas of concern around the security of the Ethereum network. This forms part of its broader “Trillion Dollar Security” (1TS) program, aimed at strengthening the system’s ability to safely support widespread financial use at a global level.
Ethereum currently secures over $600 billion in digital assets and underpins a large portion of the decentralised finance ecosystem. While the network is widely used and has evolved over more than a decade, the Foundation believes that critical improvements are necessary for Ethereum to expand further and handle larger volumes of capital with confidence.
The 1TS project was introduced to identify weak points in Ethereum’s technical and governance systems. Input was gathered from developers, security analysts, users, and institutions across the ecosystem. This first report highlights six specific areas in need of immediate attention.
Image 1: Ethereum Foundation: (Source: BitcoinNews)
Six Priority Areas Identified
The report begins by examining the user experience. According to the Foundation, many users still face challenges when managing private keys, interacting with decentralised applications, and completing transactions. These interactions often involve risks that can result in financial loss, and the Foundation suggests that better systems are needed to reduce those risks and improve usability.
Smart contract safety was another major focus. These contracts — the automated programs behind Ethereum-based applications — can be vulnerable to errors or malicious activity. The report notes that the current methods for developing, testing, and deploying these contracts do not offer sufficient protection in all cases, and calls for more robust standards across the development cycle.
A third area raised involves infrastructure and cloud dependencies. Ethereum applications rely on various external tools and services such as cloud platforms, remote procedure call (RPC) services, and Layer 2 chains. These elements, although essential, introduce added complexity and potential vulnerabilities that must be addressed to ensure the ecosystem remains resilient.
The strength of Ethereum’s consensus protocol also received attention. This protocol is what ensures the integrity of the blockchain itself. The Foundation acknowledges that while it has been effective, ongoing assessment and refinement are necessary to safeguard the network from potential manipulation or targeted threats.
Incident management and security response were also assessed. The Foundation found that both users and organisations often lack adequate tools for identifying and addressing breaches. In particular, there is limited support for recovering lost funds or minimising the consequences of attacks once they occur. Improved detection, response, and recovery systems are being flagged as essential steps forward.
The final area discussed was governance and coordination. Ethereum’s decentralised nature means that decision-making is distributed among many independent groups. While this structure supports openness, it can also slow down responses to urgent security issues. The Foundation recommends that better collaborative frameworks be developed to strengthen Ethereum’s social and governance layers.
Next Phase: Selecting Priorities and Solutions
This initial report serves to map out the main problem areas. According to the Foundation, the next phase of the 1TS initiative will involve selecting the most urgent challenges and identifying appropriate solutions. Implementation will be coordinated across the wider Ethereum community, with participation from developers, infrastructure teams, and user-focused organisations.
The Ethereum Foundation makes it clear that it cannot resolve these issues alone. As the platform is maintained by a broad network of independent contributors, strengthening Ethereum’s security will require joint effort across all sectors of the ecosystem.
Image 2: (Source: Unsplash)
Leadership Changes and Organisational Update
The release of the 1TS report comes as the Ethereum Foundation undergoes internal changes. Earlier this month, its protocol research and development division was restructured, with changes to management and staffing. These adjustments aim to streamline development processes and improve operational efficiency.
Aya Miyaguchi has been appointed president. In her new role, she is expected to lead the Foundation through the next stage of strategic development, including overseeing the continued rollout of the 1TS program.
The Foundation has also updated its treasury management approach. The new model is intended to improve how resources are allocated and ensure that spending aligns with long-term priorities, especially as the ecosystem faces growing expectations from both public and institutional users.
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The Foundation is positioning this series of changes — including the report, organisational adjustments, and strategic planning — as essential to preparing Ethereum for the next phase of global financial relevance. It states that ensuring high levels of trust, safety, and system reliability will be central to enabling Ethereum to eventually support trillions of dollars in digital value.
