A renowned developer on X, Ameen Soleimani, has criticized the reluctance of Ethereum to implement the Poseidon precompile. In an update shared recently, Soleimani expressed concerns over Ethereum’s hesitation to implement this hash function, which is necessary for efficient zk proofs.
Insight into Poseidon precompile delays
According to Soleimani, this same function has been on other blockchains such as Solana, Starknet and Stellar since 2020-2022. He criticized the Ethereum community for always talking about “privacy by default” but refusing to make the required technical upgrade that would guarantee it.
Soleimani insists that the key element, which is the zkEVM feature, is missing, and if conditions stay that way, privacy is not be truly enabled on Ethereum.
The developer claimed that the team at Starknet tried to offer some level of assistance to the Ethereum chain but was waved off. Soleimani insists that Ethereum has a privacy gap and appears to be a call to action to the Ethereum team.
He opines that Ethereum needs to match up with the current zk rollup demands and improve its chain. Notably, EIP-5988 has been proposed since 2022 to add Poseidon to EVM addresses, but it has not happened. The development remains stagnant, and it is causing delays to native shielded transfers.
It is important to clarify that a “precompile” is a built-in, low-cost function that could significantly reduce gas fees on Ethereum. So, Ethereum’s continued use of Poseidon without a precompile makes privacy on apps impractical on layer 1.
Soleimani argued that Poseidon is already the "most battle-tested’ hash function, enjoying utility on zk systems. Given its reliability, he opined that there is no genuinely acceptable reason to delay the deployment.
He decried Ethereum’s roadmap, which has continued to push privacy to layer 2s instead of layer 1s owning it. Soleimani wants layer 1s to still have core zk primitives because, without them, private transaction costs will remain too expensive.
Privacy roadmap promises clash with slow implementation
The developer’s arguments have a basis, considering that Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin had, in April 2025, outlined a new roadmap on privacy.
Despite promises to get serious, implementation remains a challenge and has continued to be a matter sparing debates in the space.
Recognizing the cost-prohibitive nature of privacy functions on Ethereum, Ernst & Young’s Paul Brody expressed hope that the blockchain might actually act in 2026. Brody stated that he desires to see privacy implementation becoming mainstream for users and institutions.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
BlackRock "Ethereum Staking ETF" Makes a Splash! First Day Trading Volume Exceeds $15.5 Million
BlackRock's "iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB)" had a trading volume of over $15.5 million on its first day of listing, showcasing strong performance and highlighting the potential for institutional capital to flow into Ethereum. ETHB will directly hold Ether and participate in staking; in addition to benefiting from price fluctuations, investors can earn staking rewards, with 82% of the yields distributed to holders on a monthly basis.
区块客4m ago
Vitalik Buterin Proposes Fast Confirmation Rules, Ethereum Deposit Confirmation Time May Be Shortened to 13 Seconds
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposed Fast Confirmation Rules (FCR), aiming to reduce deposit confirmation time to approximately 13 seconds and optimize user experience. FCR provides early confirmation signals through validator attestations without requiring a hard fork. Despite concerns about centralization and honesty, it is still viewed as an important measure to improve network efficiency and is part of the Lean Ethereum roadmap.
GateNews43m ago
BlackRock deposits 930 BTC and 12,687 ETH into a certain CEX, with a total value exceeding $93 million.
Gate News reports that on March 19, Onchain Lens monitoring showed that BlackRock deposited 930 BTC (valued at $65.48 million) and 12,687 ETH (valued at $27.75 million) to a certain CEX, and may continue to increase deposits.
GateNews1h ago
South Korean Police Plan to Establish Guidelines for Seizing Privacy Coins; Virtual Assets Confiscated Over Past Five Years Valued at 545 Billion Won
The Korean National Police Agency is developing new virtual asset seizure management guidelines, incorporating handling of privacy coins for the first time. The new regulations will clarify software wallet management, address virtual asset custody gaps, and improve law enforcement efficiency. Police plan to designate private custodian institutions, while experts recommend establishing a centralized public custody mechanism to reduce risks. This reform has been prompted by recent Bitcoin theft incidents, driving the management system's transition toward the digital asset era.
区块客1h ago
Yesterday, US Bitcoin spot ETF net outflows were $163.5 million, and Ethereum ETF net outflows were $55.7 million
Gate News reports that on March 19, according to Farside monitoring data, on March 18, US Bitcoin spot ETFs experienced net outflows of $163.5 million, and Ethereum spot ETFs experienced net outflows of $55.7 million.
GateNews1h ago
"Machi Big Brother" Huang Li-cheng Increases ETH Long Position to 11,200 Coins, Currently Down $530,000 in Unrealized Losses
Gate News reported that on March 19, according to HyperInsight monitoring, "Da Ge Ma Ji" Huang Licheng's address just increased his ETH long position to 11,200 ETH (approximately $24.4 million USD), with an average entry price of $2,226.86 USD, currently showing an unrealized loss of $530,000 USD.
GateNews2h ago
