ETH Merge? Vitalik Buterin: Prepare for the Surge, Verge, Purge, and Splurge

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The Ethereum (ETH) Merge has captured global attention as a landmark shift from proof-of-work to proof-of-work. But according to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, this is just the beginning. In a recent address at an ETH community conference in France, Buterin emphasized that the Merge marks only about 40% completion of Ethereum’s long-term vision. With the transition to proof-of-stake now underway, a bold roadmap of future upgrades—poetically named the Surge, Verge, Purge, and Splurge—is set to transform the network into a faster, leaner, and more decentralized platform.

These upgrades aren’t just technical tweaks; they represent a comprehensive evolution designed to scale Ethereum, reduce user costs, and enhance accessibility for everyday users and developers alike.

The Merge: Just the First Step

The Merge refers to the integration of Ethereum’s mainnet with the proof-of-stake Beacon Chain—a pivotal moment that reduces energy consumption by over 99%. While this shift is monumental, Buterin stresses it's only the first phase in a multi-year transformation. With Ropsten’s successful testnet merge already completed, the mainnet transition is expected around September 2025.

Buterin contrasted Ethereum’s journey with Bitcoin (BTC), noting that while many BTC supporters believe their network is 80% complete, ETH proponents see their ecosystem as only about 55% finished post-Merge. This mindset reflects Ethereum’s ambition: not just to be digital money, but a global, programmable settlement layer for decentralized applications.

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The Surge: Scaling Ethereum to New Heights

Next on the roadmap is the Surge, focused on scaling. This phase aims to introduce sharding, a technique that splits the database into smaller, more manageable pieces. Sharding will enable Ethereum to process transactions in parallel rather than sequentially, dramatically increasing throughput.

According to Buterin, today’s Ethereum handles roughly 15–20 transactions per second (TPS). After the Surge—combined with Layer 2 rollups and other scaling solutions—that number could soar to 100,000 TPS.

This leap will make DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 applications significantly faster and cheaper to use. Rollups, which bundle multiple transactions off-chain before settling them on Ethereum, will become more efficient and widely adopted. The result? Lower gas fees and smoother user experiences across wallets, exchanges, and dApps.

For developers, the Surge means building scalable applications without worrying about network congestion. For users, it means near-instant transactions at a fraction of today’s cost.

The Verge: Enabling Light Clients and Stateless Verification

Following the Surge comes the Verge, a critical upgrade aimed at improving decentralization and node accessibility.

Currently, running an Ethereum node requires storing massive amounts of data—over 1TB in some cases. This creates a barrier for individual users who want to participate in network validation. The Verge seeks to eliminate this bottleneck through two key technologies: Verkle Trees and stateless clients.

Verkle Trees are an advanced cryptographic structure that allows nodes to verify transactions without storing the full state of the blockchain. Combined with stateless clients—software that can validate blocks using minimal local data—this upgrade will let users run validators on low-powered devices like smartphones or laptops.

Buterin believes this will deepen decentralization by allowing thousands more participants to become validators, reducing reliance on large data centers and cloud providers.

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The Purge: Cleaning Up Network Bloat

Despite its name evoking dystopian films, the Purge is about digital hygiene—not chaos. Its goal is simple: reduce the amount of historical data nodes must store over time.

As Ethereum grows, so does its blockchain size. Over years, this "data bloat" makes it harder for new nodes to sync and increases operational costs. The Purge will introduce mechanisms to delete obsolete historical data, such as old transaction receipts and expired state entries, while preserving network security and integrity.

This doesn’t mean losing important records; critical data will remain available through archival services. But regular validators won’t need to keep everything locally. The result? Faster synchronization, lower storage demands, and a leaner protocol.

By simplifying what nodes must maintain, the Purge supports long-term sustainability and lowers entry barriers for new participants.

The Splurge: Where Innovation Meets Experimentation

Finally, there’s the Splurge—a catch-all term for experimental features and optimizations that don’t fit neatly into other phases. Think of it as Ethereum’s innovation sandbox.

Potential elements of the Splurge include:

While less defined than other phases, the Splurge ensures Ethereum remains adaptable and responsive to emerging needs. It reflects Buterin’s philosophy: build a robust foundation first, then iterate rapidly based on community input and technological advances.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What percentage of Ethereum’s development is complete after the Merge?
A: According to Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum is only about 55% complete after the Merge. The network still has major upgrades like the Surge, Verge, Purge, and Splurge ahead.

Q: How will sharding improve Ethereum’s performance?
A: Sharding splits the blockchain into smaller chains (shards), allowing parallel transaction processing. Combined with rollups, it could enable Ethereum to handle up to 100,000 transactions per second, drastically reducing congestion and fees.

Q: What are Verkle Trees and why do they matter?
A: Verkle Trees are cryptographic structures that allow nodes to verify transactions with minimal data storage. They enable stateless clients, making it easier for users to run validators on consumer hardware and boosting decentralization.

Q: Will the Purge delete important blockchain data?
A: No. The Purge removes outdated or redundant data from active node requirements but preserves critical information through archival systems. Full history remains accessible without burdening every validator.

Q: Is the Splurge a formal upgrade or just experimental ideas?
A: The Splurge is a flexible category for smaller enhancements and experimental features that complement core upgrades. It ensures Ethereum can evolve quickly in response to user needs.

Q: When will these upgrades be implemented?
A: The Merge was completed in 2025. The Surge is expected next, followed by the Verge, Purge, and Splurge over subsequent years. Exact timelines depend on testing and network stability.

Core Keywords

With each phase—from the energy-efficient Merge to the ambitious Surge and beyond—Ethereum is evolving into a more powerful, inclusive, and sustainable platform. These upgrades aren’t just technical milestones; they’re steps toward a decentralized future where anyone can participate securely and affordably.

👉 Stay ahead of the curve with insights into Ethereum’s next-generation upgrades.