Buterin Aims to Redefine Ethereum’s Execution Layer
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sparked major discussion after proposing a radical upgrade to Ethereum’s core infrastructure. Announced on the Ethereum Magicians forum, Buterin suggests replacing the long-standing Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with RISC-V, an open-standard instruction set architecture, to boost scalability, efficiency, and future-proof Ethereum’s competitiveness. The EVM currently powers Ethereum’s smart contracts, but it’s been plagued by issues like high gas fees and network congestion. By shifting to RISC-V, Buterin envisions a more flexible and efficient execution layer, better suited for handling the demands of modern blockchain applications and layer-2 scaling solutions.
The proposal outlines converting EVM opcodes, like SLOAD and CALL, into syscalls within a RISC-V structure, while preserving essential smart contract features such as accounts, storage, and cross-contract calls.
Our discussions about the Layer 1 scaling roadmap have been extensive, and the feedback so far suggests that the community appreciates our ambition. Turning that ambition into reality now depends on the focus of the core development teams and researchers.
— Tomasz K. Stańczak (@tkstanczak) April 20, 2025
Following the recent…
Our discussions about the Layer 1 scaling roadmap have been extensive, and the feedback so far suggests that the community appreciates our ambition. Turning that ambition into reality now depends on the focus of the core development teams and researchers.
— Tomasz K. Stańczak (@tkstanczak) April 20, 2025
Following the recent…
Why RISC-V? A Vision for Ethereum’s Future
Buterin’s vision isn’t just about short-term fixes — it’s a long-term strategy to ensure Ethereum stays competitive against high-performance blockchains like Solana. The move to RISC-V could significantly improve:
- Data availability sampling.
- Block production efficiency.
- The performance of zero-knowledge proofs (zk-proofs), crucial for privacy and scaling.
Smart contract languages like Solidity would need to adapt, compiling directly to RISC-V instead of EVM bytecode, potentially unlocking faster execution and better resource management. Buterin frames this as a way to enhance Ethereum’s zkEVM proving, reducing computational overhead while scaling the network’s capabilities.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the optimism, Buterin’s proposal is being labeled as “radical” and “ambitious.” The biggest hurdle? Maintaining backward compatibility for millions of existing smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Developers would also face a steep learning curve, adapting to new tools and frameworks built around RISC-V. Reaching consensus within Ethereum’s decentralized governance model will be no small feat. A change of this magnitude demands extensive testing, coordination, and stakeholder buy-in.
Community Reaction
The crypto community’s response has been a mix of excitement and skepticism. Many recognize this proposal as a continuation of Buterin’s October 2024 comments, where he hinted at RISC-V playing a role in Ethereum’s formal verification roadmap. While some see this as a bold step towards solving Ethereum’s scalability bottlenecks, others worry about the complexity and risks involved in rewiring Ethereum’s foundation.
For now, the idea remains in the discussion phase, with no set timeline for implementation. The Ethereum community is expected to debate the pros and cons extensively before any concrete steps are taken.
Will Ethereum Take the Leap?
If successful, transitioning to RISC-V could redefine Ethereum’s future, positioning it as a more scalable, efficient, and versatile blockchain. But with high stakes and significant challenges, all eyes are on how developers, validators, and stakeholders will respond. This proposal highlights Ethereum’s ongoing commitment to innovation—but whether the network is ready for such a seismic shift remains to be seen.
