Ethereum faces a critical turning point. According to recent insights, Vitalik has raised an important concern: without proper network maintenance and optimization, the growing bloat could eventually undermine Ethereum's functionality and performance. The issue centers on how the blockchain's expanding data and transaction layers may create bottlenecks if left unaddressed. This isn't just technical jargon—it's about whether Ethereum can maintain scalability and efficiency as adoption grows. The potential solutions involve careful protocol upgrades and possibly restructuring how the network handles storage and computation. For developers and users alike, this signals that ongoing optimization work remains essential to keep Ethereum competitive and viable in the long term.