Vitalik Buterin is calling for a cleanup process within Ethereum, warning that stacking new upgrades onto legacy systems without removing outdated components increases network complexity to dangerous levels. The proposal comes at a pivotal moment for Ethereum as the protocol prepares for its next phase of scaling.
Vitalik says Ethereum’s codebase needs cleaning up
Buterin raised the case for developers to address the architectural burden from endlessly shipping features without removing old ones. The Ethereum cofounder stated in an X post that true trustlessness depends more on simplicity than raw decentralization metrics, according to CoinDesk. If a protocol is cluttered by hundreds of thousands of lines of code, it eventually fails regardless of resilience. Buterin noted that complexity undermines Ethereum by weakening trustlessness and eliminating self sovereignty.

Three breakout crypto projects to watch in 2026
1. Pepeto: The PEPE cofounder’s credibility makes this the next crypto to explode
Amid whispers of which project may be the next crypto to explode, Pepeto keeps surfacing because the person behind it already built PEPE into a $7 billion token. The reason for that conviction boils down to one factor that no other presale can replicate: founder credibility.
The $45 billion meme coin economy has no dedicated infrastructure: the PEPE cofounder is addressing that by building PepetoSwap, Pepeto Bridge, and Pepeto Exchange, all announced and close to being ready. PepetoSwap is being engineered for zero tax cross chain meme trading across Ethereum, Solana, and BSC. Pepeto Bridge approaches deployment to unlock liquidity trapped on incompatible blockchains. Pepeto Exchange is close to launching as a curated marketplace that only admits verified meme tokens.
The aim is to give every meme coin trader a single platform where swapping, bridging, and verifying happen under one roof built by the founder who already proved he could deliver $7 billion in value. SolidProof has verified every contract, and 200% APY staking compounds positions daily while the products finalize. The presale has crossed $7.99 million, and over 4 billion tokens have been permanently burned to tighten the supply that exchange listings will soon demand.
2. River price prediction: Bulls target $70 after 33% recovery
After initially dropping to $17, River staged a comeback, rising more than 33% to reclaim an ascending channel. RIVER soared nearly 61% over the week to $27.46. With the RSI at 71, just below the overbought region, and the structure bullish, RIVER may be among the breakout crypto projects to watch. If buyers maintain momentum, RIVER could target $70, per Bloomberg.
3. Quant price prediction: Price jumps as volume triples
Quant’s price jumped along with its trading volume over the week. QNT rose to $78, while volume tripled. This comes as Quant retracted to the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $75, an area the bulls have defended since late 2025. As the retracement fizzles out, it creates an accumulation opportunity for investors watching the next breakout. If momentum continues, QNT could target the $90 to $100 zone in the coming weeks.
The bottom line
While River and Quant stage recoveries on technical patterns, the real urgency belongs to Pepeto. The window is closing on the presale led by the PEPE cofounder, and once exchange listings arrive, the ground floor entry that built $7.99 million in committed capital will be gone permanently. Every day the presale remains open is one day closer to the last chance before pricing shifts forever.
Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale
FAQs
Which asset is likely the next crypto to explode?
Based on demand level, founder credibility, and real infrastructure, Pepeto led by the PEPE cofounder with three products approaching launch and $7.99 million raised is positioned as the strongest candidate for the next crypto to explode.
What will be the next big cryptocurrency?
Pepeto is shaping up as the next big cryptocurrency by offering dedicated meme coin infrastructure with PepetoSwap, Pepeto Bridge, and Pepeto Exchange, all backed by SolidProof verification and the track record of the PEPE cofounder.
Why is Vitalik calling for Ethereum protocol cleanup?
Vitalik Buterin argues that stacking upgrades without removing outdated code increases complexity to dangerous levels. He believes true trustlessness depends on simplicity, not just decentralization metrics.



