Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is reportedly floating the idea of swapping out the Ethereum Virtual Machine’s (EMV) current contract language for RISC-V. The goal is to boost execution speed and efficiency as the network seeks to better compete with high-performance smart contract platforms. 

Buterin outlined several long-term hurdles the network must address to scale effectively. Among them: developing reliable data availability sampling, keeping block production decentralized and competitive, and advancing zero-knowledge proof systems for the EVM.

The Ethereum co-founder believes adopting the RISC-V instruction set for Ethereum smart contracts could boost execution layer performance—particularly for zero-knowledge operations—while helping maintain a healthy level of competition in block production.

RISC-V is an open-source computer architecture designed to be simple, flexible, and free to use. It allows developers to build custom processors without paying licensing fees. This is why it’s a popular choice for everything from smartphones to supercomputers.

“The beam chain effort holds great promise for greatly simplifying the consensus layer of Ethereum, but for the execution layer to see similar gains, this kind of radical change may be the only viable path,” Buterin wrote. 

In his post, Buterin noted key obstacles slowing the network’s long-term scalability. Among the concerns, he pointed to the need for more robust data availability sampling, greater competition in block production, and advancements in zero-knowledge proof technologies.

“A more radical approach from a protocol perspective is to convert existing EVM contracts into contracts that call an EVM interpreter contract written in RISC-V that runs their existing EVM code,” he further explained. 

Buterin’s proposal emphasizes Ethereum’s ongoing challenge to boost transaction throughput and keep pace with newer, high-performance blockchains like Solana and Sui. The push for upgrades comes amid waning investor confidence, as the network faces growing pressure to maintain its relevance in a rapidly evolving blockchain landscape.

The Ethereum community has long grappled with scaling limitations, and Buterin’s latest proposal suggests that incremental fixes may no longer be enough. A comprehensive overhaul of the execution layer, he argues, could be necessary for Ethereum to stay relevant amid a new generation of high-throughput blockchains.

The urgency is emphasized by mounting economic pressures. Ethereum’s transaction fees—historically its primary revenue stream—have dropped to multi-year lows, raising questions about the network’s long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

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Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.