Ethereum Co-founder Vitalik Buterin Proposes Swapping EVM with RISC-V
Hey there! Ethereum's big kahuna, Vitalik Buterin, has dropped a bone on us - he's suggesting a switcharoo for the Ethereum network's heart and soul, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), moving it to the RISC-V platform instead.
The reason for thisswitch-a-roo? To supercharge the network's execution layer and tackle long-term scale issues head-on.
Scalin' Up
Buterin dropped a bombshell in April '23, explaining it all in a forum post on Ethereum Magicians. In a nutshell, this change is critical to optimizing zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (ZK-EVMs) and making scaling the network smooth as silk.
He believes that the move to RISC-V will allow for some serious streamlining. Right now, code written in languages like Solidity gets turned into EVM instructions, then converted again to work with zero-knowledge tools. Buterin suggests cutting out that middle man step and letting developers write code that goes straight to RISC-V.
This tweak could make things like state updates, block execution, and input deserialization up to 100 times faster! Those improvements come from RISC-V's compatibility with proving systems and avoiding the inefficiencies of the current setup.
Don't worry - users will still be able to interact with Ethereum just like they always have, and existing contracts will keep on running, no problem.
Several ways to implement this change are being considered, including side-by-side operation of RISC-V and EVM contracts, using a RISC-V-based EVM interpreter for legacy support, or fully integrating the interpreter into Ethereum's protocol, potentially supporting other VMs like Move down the line.
Vitalik pointed to Nervos, a blockchain already using RISC-V, as a shining example of how this move could play out in the real world. Plus, there's even the potential to boost performance further by swapping Ethereum's main hash function for something faster and proof-friendly.
Ethereum's Time of Trouble
This proposal comes at a tense moment for Ethereum. Data from Santiment shows that network usage is at an all-time low, and those average transaction fees fell to a measly $0.16 in April, the lowest figure since 2020. The cause? Users have been bailing on Layer 1 solutions in favor of faster, cheaper alternatives like Layer 2 solutions.
Meanwhile, newer chains like Solana and Sui are breathing down Ethereum's neck, offering swift performance and low fees. Buterin's post hints at the need for deeper structural changes to keep Ethereum competitive and scalable, but there's the Pectra upgrade lined up for May 7th. We'll have to wait and see if that's enough to keep Ethereum's head above water!
All righty then, that's the skinny on Vitalik's RISC-V proposal for Ethereum. It's a radical move that has the potential to shake the crypto world to its core, so keep an eye on those developments.
Oh, and if you're new to the world of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, and RISC-V, we got you covered. Don't be shy – join the learning party!
For more info
Here's where you can get in touch with Vitalik Buterin, the man on the move: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
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- Vitalik Buterin, the influential figure behind Ethereum, proposes a shift in Ethereum's core, moving the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to the RISC-V platform, aiming to enhance the network's execution layer and tackle long-term scale issues.
- One of the benefits suggested by Buterin is the streamlining of the network that comes from code written in languages like Solidity being able to go straight to RISC-V instructions, eliminating the need for the current deserialization process.
- This change has potential to significantly speed up operations such as state updates, block execution, and input deserialization by up to 100 times.
- Buterin envisions various methods for implementing this change, including combined operation of RISC-V and EVM contracts, using a RISC-V-based EVM interpreter for legacy support, or full integration of the interpreter into Ethereum's protocol.
- Nervos, a blockchain already employing RISC-V, serves as an example for how this move could boost performance and efficiency in the real world, potentially opening doors for further improvements such as swapping Ethereum's main hash function for a faster and proof-friendly alternative.
