In a new report released June 10, the Ethereum Foundation (EF) has identified six critical security vulnerabilities that threaten the long-term resilience of the Ethereum ecosystem, with user experience and governance risks topping the list.
Drawing from extensive feedback across the Ethereum community — including developers, users, and ecosystem contributors — the Foundation’s analysis pinpoints areas where security risks are still evolving, particularly as the network grows more complex and interconnected.
At the forefront of the identified concerns is user experience (UX), which the EF deems central to Ethereum’s overall security posture. The report stressed that a disproportionate share of security responsibility is placed on end-users, many of whom are ill-equipped to safely manage cryptographic keys or understand onchain permissions.
“UX security and safety was the top issue identified through feedback and consultation with the ecosystem.”
the report notes, highlighting specific user risks such as blind signing, inadequate permission management, and the vulnerability of web interfaces. These flaws open up users to phishing attacks, key theft, and unauthorized access to assets.
Of particular concern is the growing threat of centralization, both onchain and offchain. The EF warned that large-scale stake centralization could compromise Ethereum’s decentralized ethos if dominant entities act in concert to influence consensus or governance. Similarly, offchain economic concentration introduces the risk of governance capture — a scenario in which a small group could manipulate decisions on behalf of the broader network.
These insights arrive shortly after the Foundation launched its “Trillion Dollar Security Initiative” on May 14. Spearheaded by Josh Stark, a member of EF’s leadership, and protocol security researcher Fredrik Svantes, the initiative aims to elevate Ethereum’s security capabilities in line with its growing economic impact.
Despite mounting competition from newer networks, Ethereum remains the dominant force in decentralized finance (DeFi). As of June 10, the network held $65 billion in DeFi assets — 55.6% of the total $116.9 billion locked across platforms — according to DefiLlama.
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