Vitalik Buterin Proposes Radical Plan to Swap ETH EVM Language for RISC-V

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a rather radical plan to replace the current Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) bytecode with the open-source RISC-V instruction set.

This change, he said, aimed to boost the execution layer’s efficiency and would not alter core smart contract features, such as accounts or storage. However, it would fundamentally change how the chain compiles and executes code.

If implemented, this move could dramatically improve the network’s execution layer efficiency up to 100x while addressing concerns over declining base-layer activity and revenue. This would work best, especially for zero-knowledge (ZK) proving, where many provers already convert EVM code into RISC-V internally.

 Long-Term Vision for Ethereum

Buterin outlined several options for integrating RISC-V to maintain continuity. The least disruptive option would be to allow developers to write contracts in either EVM or RISC-V, with both having full access to storage, balances, and the ability to call each other.

Moreover, from a RISC-V contract’s perspective, calling an EVM contract would function like making a system call, while the EVM would interpret it as a standard call.

A more radical approach would wrap existing EVM contracts in top-level logic that routes execution through a RISC-V-based Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) interpreter. This would allow legacy code to run within the new architecture without requiring a rewrite.

Furthermore, Buterin also proposed an intermediate model where Ethereum enshrines the idea of virtual machine interpreters, starting with the EVM but potentially expanding to include others, such as Move.

Ethereum is preparing for its Pectra upgrade on May 7 focused on improving scalability and validator capacity. However, this RISC-V proposal could set the stage for the next major leap in Ethereum’s evolution and continued dominance.

Declining ETH Base Layer Activity Sparks Urgency

Buterin’s proposal couldn’t have come at a more desperate time for the ETH network. This is as Ethereum is seeing sharp declines in base-layer revenue and on-chain activity.

Ethereum network fees have dropped to around $0.168 per transaction, their lowest since 2020, indicating that fewer people are sending Ether.

This raises concerns about the chain’s ongoing struggle with its scaling model. The model relies heavily on L2s for transactions, which further drives activity away from Ethereum.

Ethereum has dropped by over 17% month to month amid mounting questions about the network’s long-term viability and stagnation. The adoption of RISC-V could be a step in the right direction to restore long-term confidence in Ethereum.