Ethereum's zkEVM has achieved a significant milestone, breaking through the 16-second performance barrier, marking a 45-fold improvement in cost and speed. The Ethereum Foundation has unveiled a 2026 security roadmap, focusing on real-time proof mechanisms and aiming for 128-bit provable security. New tools such as WHIR and JaggedPCS are expected to enhance performance and minimize waste. Despite these advancements, market performance remains sensitive to potential deployment delays and the progress of the development team. Security concerns persist, particularly as some STARK-based zkEVMs face challenges due to weakened mathematical foundations.