Vitalik Buterin Proposes Replacing Ethereum’s EVM With RISC-V Architecture

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a radical shift in the architecture of the Ethereum network—replacing its long-standing Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with RISC-V, a modern, open-source hardware instruction set architecture. The EVM is the core component that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) to run on the Ethereum network. However, Buterin argues that the current system, despite being foundational to Ethereum’s growth, may be approaching its limitations in scalability, performance, and long-term sustainability.

In his blog post, Buterin points to RISC-V’s flexibility, simplicity, and alignment with modern computing standards as key advantages. He claims that by transitioning to a RISC-V-based execution environment, Ethereum could benefit from increased execution efficiency—potentially over 100 times faster in some zero-knowledge (ZK) proving applications. Additionally, he suggests that RISC-V could simplify Ethereum’s underlying infrastructure, making it easier for developers to build on and optimize for the network in the long run.

Buterin’s proposal comes amid Ethereum’s efforts to address a broader range of scaling challenges. He notes that the shift to RISC-V could complement existing initiatives like the Beam Chain, which seeks to redesign Ethereum’s consensus layer. Although he clarifies that this would be a long-term project, similar in scale to Ethereum’s previous network-wide upgrades like “The Merge,” it signals a forward-thinking direction for the protocol. If adopted, the change could set a precedent for other blockchains to follow, potentially sparking a new wave of innovation in smart contract platforms.

The Ethereum community is expected to debate the feasibility and implications of this proposal in the coming months. Key considerations include compatibility with existing tools and smart contracts, the potential impact on validators and developers, and how such a fundamental shift would be implemented without disrupting the network. Nonetheless, Buterin’s vision reflects a continued willingness to rethink foundational elements of Ethereum in order to maintain its edge in an increasingly competitive and technologically complex Web3 ecosystem.