Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a significant overhaul of the blockchain’s execution layer, suggesting replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) bytecode with the RISC-V architecture. In a new post on the Ethereum Magicians forum, Buterin described the idea as a long-term solution aimed at boosting Ethereum’s performance and efficiency.
Buterin states that switching to RISC-V technology would result in substantial speed and cost improvements for Ethereum’s execution layer. On-the-ground consensus system simplification represents an ongoing project, yet execution layer advancement needs an absolutely fundamental change. RISC-V implementation provides executions on the Ethereum blockchain with a potential expense reduction of up to 100 times on specific procedures.
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RISC-V represents an open-source programming structure alternative to ARM and x86 proprietary platforms. Buterin advocates using RISC-V inside Ethereum to enhance smart contract-proving operations, directly impacting scalability.
According to the proposal, Buterin stated that existing EVM contracts and new RISC-V contracts will function seamlessly together. He advocated for building an interpreter to support EVM bytecode execution and establishing an interpreter to let EVM bytecode run within a RISC-V framework. This approach would provide developers and users with a harmonious transition.
Ethereum Eyes Major Virtual Machine Shift to Enhance Smart Contract Efficiency
Other blockchain projects have already taken steps in this direction. For instance, Polkadot introduced PolkaVM in August 2023, supporting multiple virtual machines without requiring complete conversion of existing contracts. Buterin’s proposal reflects a similar idea but opens the door to a complete shift in Ethereum’s underlying architecture over time.
An upcoming release of the Pectra update will activate on May 7 to become part of the Ethereum network infrastructure. The upgrade will focus on bettering user experience, boosting rollup scalability, and raising the validator stake maximum threshold.
RISC-V adoption would create a new direction for Ethereum’s future software development trajectory. The network demonstrates active research for enduring performance solutions because it responds to increasing user needs and innovation challenges through development.
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