Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined a series of short-term upgrades aimed at integrating native privacy features into Ethereum's base layer. This announcement follows a public discussion on X, where users highlighted privacy as a key missing feature that could enhance Ethereum's utility and value. Buterin's proposed upgrades include account abstraction, keyed nonces, and Kohaku, which are designed to improve transaction privacy and flexibility. These enhancements are part of a broader effort to embed privacy into Ethereum's everyday operations, rather than relying on separate privacy tools. The upgrades are expected to be part of the Hegota hard fork scheduled for late 2026. Buterin's commitment to privacy extends beyond Ethereum, as evidenced by his recent support for Zcash developer Shielded Labs. The impact of these privacy features on Ethereum's market position remains to be seen, especially as the ETH/BTC ratio has recently hit a 10-month low.