Ethereum Co‑Founder Proposes “Transaction Simulation” as a New Layer of Security
February 23 2026
Ethereum’s co‑founder Vitalik Buterin has taken to X to outline a security concept he believes could reshape how users interact with wallets and smart contracts. The proposal, dubbed “transaction simulation,” seeks to merge user experience (UX) and security by giving users a concrete preview of the on‑chain effects of their actions before they are executed.
What the proposal entails
Buterin argues that both UX and security revolve around a single principle: ensuring that a protocol carries out exactly what a user intends. In practice, the idea would require a system to:
- Run a sandboxed simulation of the transaction – the user would see a clear, deterministic outcome of the operation, such as token transfers, contract calls, or state changes.
- Present the simulated result for user confirmation – only after reviewing the preview would the user click “OK” to commit the transaction, or “Cancel” to abort it.
- Layer additional intent checks – mechanisms like spending caps, multi‑signature approvals, or other policy constraints could be combined with the simulation to form a multi‑factor confirmation process.
If implemented, routine, low‑risk actions could be approved with a single click, while higher‑risk interactions would require more deliberate verification, potentially reducing accidental losses and phishing exploits.
Why user intent matters – and why it’s hard to pin down
Buterin notes that defining a user’s true intent is far from straightforward. “The challenge isn’t a flaw in the code or a mistake by developers; it’s that a user’s intent is a complex, often subconscious construct that even the user may struggle to articulate,” he wrote.
His suggested remedy is redundancy: require the user to express intent through several overlapping signals—such as a simulation view, explicit risk limits, and multi‑party approvals—so that the system acts only when these signals converge.
Potential impact on the Ethereum ecosystem
- Wallets and dApps – Developers could incorporate simulation modules directly into wallet interfaces, giving users a “what‑if” snapshot before signing. This could become a differentiator for security‑focused wallet providers.
- Smart contract design – Contract authors might expose deterministic simulation endpoints, allowing external tools to fetch a preview of state changes without actually committing gas.
- Broader tech applications – The concept could extend beyond blockchain to operating systems and hardware, where actions with irreversible consequences (e.g., firmware updates) could be pre‑visualized.
Relation to the blockchain trilemma
Buterin’s remarks echo his earlier commentary on the blockchain trilemma—security, decentralization, and scalability. While the community has largely focused on scaling solutions (e.g., rollups, sharding) and decentralization, the proposed simulation layer targets the “security” vertex, aiming to tighten user protection without sacrificing the other two pillars.
Analyst view
Industry observers see the proposal as a logical next step in the maturation of the Ethereum user experience. “Simulation could become a standard safety net, especially as the network’s value and transaction volume keep rising,” says blockchain analyst Maya Patel of CryptoInsights. “However, widespread adoption will hinge on standardizing simulation APIs and ensuring that the previews are both accurate and gas‑efficient.”
Key takeaways
- Transaction simulation offers a preview of on‑chain effects, allowing users to confirm or abort actions based on concrete outcomes.
- Multi‑layer intent verification (simulations, limits, multisig) could make high‑risk transactions harder to execute unintentionally.
- Implementation challenges include defining universal simulation interfaces and handling the added computational overhead.
- Security focus complements ongoing work on scalability and decentralization, addressing the third leg of the blockchain trilemma.
If the community embraces these ideas, the next generation of Ethereum wallets and dApps may provide a more transparent and secure user experience, potentially reducing the frequency of costly mistakes and malicious exploits.
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