- Ethereum Foundation unveils Trillion Dollar Security (1TS) on 14 May.
- The programme targets user safety at $1,000 and institutional confidence at $1 trillion.
- ETH trades at $2,521, down 2.69% despite the new security roadmap.
The Ethereum Foundation has unveiled a high-stakes initiative called Trillion Dollar Security (1TS), aiming to reinforce the network’s security at a time when billions of dollars are already moving through DeFi protocols and Layer-2 solutions.
Announced on 14 May, the programme intends to make Ethereum secure enough for both retail and institutional capital—ensuring individuals feel safe holding $1,000 on-chain, and organisations are comfortable locking in $1 trillion within a single smart contract.
This comes as Ethereum’s long-standing dominance in the decentralised ecosystem faces increasing pressure.
Developer engagement is falling, protocol complexity has become a key concern, and rivals like Solana are offering simpler, more efficient alternatives.
By strengthening Ethereum’s security guarantees and re-establishing trust, the Foundation is attempting to reframe Ethereum’s value proposition not just as a decentralised infrastructure, but as the safest foundation for global asset settlement in the digital economy.
Security goals of 1TS
The 1TS initiative is designed to make Ethereum secure enough for trillions in total value locked (TVL).
It will use a three-part strategy: assess vulnerabilities, fix risks based on priority, and improve communication about security guarantees.
The programme is spearheaded by Fredrik Svantes and Josh Stark, and supported by experts from organisations such as Etherealize.io, Sigma Prime, and Security Alliance.
The launch follows Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade, which focused on validator efficiency and wallet usability.
However, despite this progress, Ethereum faces persistent questions over its readiness for institutional-grade security.
The Foundation confirmed it will engage widely with ecosystem players in the coming weeks to collect feedback and guide next steps.
Developer loyalty at risk
Ethereum’s declining developer loyalty is at the heart of the 1TS launch.
Critics argue that Ethereum’s identity has become muddled, caught between aspirations of being a DeFi backbone, value store, and modular settlement hub.
Without a clear path, many developers are turning to networks like Solana, which offer simpler code environments and more cohesive support systems.
This shift in developer sentiment is fuelling a broader narrative crisis within Ethereum. Hackathons and incremental Layer-2 upgrades, once drivers of innovation, are no longer enough to retain long-term commitment.
Calls for simplicity are growing louder, with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently encouraging the community to embrace Bitcoin-style minimalism at the protocol level.
Long-term impact of 1TS
The 1TS framework could help Ethereum refocus its long-term brand around security and institutional trust.
The initiative’s goal is not only to protect existing TVL but to prepare the network for the next phase of capital migration into blockchain infrastructure.
That includes public sector experiments, tokenised real-world assets, and broader adoption by banks and asset managers.
Still, Ethereum’s market sentiment remains cautious. ETH was trading at $2,521 at the time of writing, down 2.69% in the last 24 hours.
