TLDR
- Vitalik Buterin urges Ethereum developers to prioritize security after declaring the zero-knowledge proof speed race over.
- ZKsync’s Airbender Prime proves 99% of 7,200 Ethereum blocks in under 10 seconds using one GPU.
- Buterin identifies proof accuracy, controlled computing costs, and system security as three priorities for Ethereum.
- Ethereum price faces selling pressure near $2,360, with traders watching the $2,300 support level.
- Spot Ethereum ETFs record $19.7 million in outflows as ETH struggles to recover amid broader market weakness.
Vitalik Buterin has urged Ethereum developers to prioritize security after ZKsync reported faster zero-knowledge proofs. In an October 15 post on X, the Ethereum co-founder congratulated the Airbender team and said speed was no longer the main challenge.
ZKsync introduced Airbender Prime on October 13. The project said one NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell graphics card proved 99% of 7,200 consecutive Ethereum blocks in under 10 seconds. Every block finished within 12 seconds, according to its tests. The timing included required proof preparation.
The project’s X account also promoted the release as real-time proving on one GPU. Airbender uses open-source software and hash-based proofs designed to resist future quantum threats. Separately, Buterin recently raised crypto wallet security concerns linked to advances in artificial intelligence.
Vitalik Buterin Names Three Security Requirements
Buterin called for mathematical checks that establish whether proof calculations follow Ethereum’s rules exactly. He also wants a strict upper limit on proving costs relative to block gas. His third requirement covers the security of the proof system itself.
Big congratulations to the @zksync airbender team for this milestone.
At this point, I consider the battle for speed to be definitively won, and the top priority for zkEVMs should shift fully to security.
To me that means formally verifying
(i) equivalence of the…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) October 15, 2026
These checks matter because Ethereum plans to use more zero-knowledge proofs when verifying transactions. Such proofs let computers confirm results without repeating every calculation. High proving costs could also make participation harder for operators with limited hardware.
Ethereum Price Drops Toward Key Support
Ethereum traded near $2,361 on October 15, according to a recent Ethereum price analysis. The report placed the day’s low near $2,317 and identified the $2,300 to $2,350 range as an area traders were watching.
The daily relative strength index stood near 34, reflecting weaker momentum. ETH faced initial resistance between $2,400 and $2,450, followed by the $2,500 to $2,550 range. These market levels came from chart data, not Buterin’s remarks.
ETF Withdrawals Add to Market Pressure
U.S. spot Ethereum funds recorded $19.7 million in net outflows on October 14. That followed recent ETF withdrawals during the previous week. Separate market data showed heavy liquidations across cryptocurrency futures as prices declined.
Airbender Prime remains a ZKsync development, not an Ethereum network upgrade. Buterin announced no timetable for formal security checks. ZKsync’s speed figures come from its own tests, while Ethereum developers still face the separate task of confirming proof accuracy and controlling costs.
