• bitcoinBitcoin (BTC) $ 94,651.00 1.4%
  • ethereumEthereum (ETH) $ 1,814.24 1.57%
  • tetherTether (USDT) $ 1.00 0.01%
  • xrpXRP (XRP) $ 2.18 1.33%
  • bnbBNB (BNB) $ 591.48 0.93%
  • solanaSolana (SOL) $ 146.81 0.66%
  • usd-coinUSDC (USDC) $ 0.999958 0%
  • dogecoinDogecoin (DOGE) $ 0.173376 1.3%
  • cardanoCardano (ADA) $ 0.688543 1.33%
  • tronTRON (TRX) $ 0.250374 0.83%
  • bitcoinBitcoin (BTC) $ 94,651.00 1.4%
  • ethereumEthereum (ETH) $ 1,814.24 1.57%
  • tetherTether (USDT) $ 1.00 0.01%
  • xrpXRP (XRP) $ 2.18 1.33%
  • bnbBNB (BNB) $ 591.48 0.93%
  • solanaSolana (SOL) $ 146.81 0.66%
  • usd-coinUSDC (USDC) $ 0.999958 0%
  • dogecoinDogecoin (DOGE) $ 0.173376 1.3%
  • cardanoCardano (ADA) $ 0.688543 1.33%
  • tronTRON (TRX) $ 0.250374 0.83%
  • bitcoinBitcoin (BTC) $ 94,651.00 1.4%
  • ethereumEthereum (ETH) $ 1,814.24 1.57%
  • tetherTether (USDT) $ 1.00 0.01%
  • xrpXRP (XRP) $ 2.18 1.33%
  • bnbBNB (BNB) $ 591.48 0.93%
  • solanaSolana (SOL) $ 146.81 0.66%
  • usd-coinUSDC (USDC) $ 0.999958 0%
  • dogecoinDogecoin (DOGE) $ 0.173376 1.3%
  • cardanoCardano (ADA) $ 0.688543 1.33%
  • tronTRON (TRX) $ 0.250374 0.83%
  • bitcoinBitcoin (BTC) $ 94,651.00 1.4%
  • ethereumEthereum (ETH) $ 1,814.24 1.57%
  • tetherTether (USDT) $ 1.00 0.01%
  • xrpXRP (XRP) $ 2.18 1.33%
  • bnbBNB (BNB) $ 591.48 0.93%
  • solanaSolana (SOL) $ 146.81 0.66%
  • usd-coinUSDC (USDC) $ 0.999958 0%
  • dogecoinDogecoin (DOGE) $ 0.173376 1.3%
  • cardanoCardano (ADA) $ 0.688543 1.33%
  • tronTRON (TRX) $ 0.250374 0.83%
image-alt-1BTC Dominance: 58.93%
image-alt-2 ETH Dominance: 12.89%
image-alt-3 BTC/ETH Ratio: 26.62%
image-alt-4 Total Market Cap 24h: $2.51T
image-alt-5Volume 24h: $144.96B
image-alt-6 ETH Gas Price: 0.53 Gwei

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Vitalik Buterin's RISC-V proposal

Vitalik Buterin’s RISC-V proposal could reshape Ethereum’s future execution architecture

Tariq Al-Mansouri Tariq Al-Mansouri

Vitalik Buterin’s RISC-V proposal is stirring conversation across the Ethereum and broader crypto development communities.

The Ethereum co-founder suggests replacing the current Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with a RISC-V instruction set. This shift, he argues, could significantly improve the execution layer’s speed and zero-knowledge (ZK) proving efficiency. The proposal, published on April 20, emphasizes long-term challenges to Ethereum‘s scalability, particularly data sampling, competitive block production, and the rising importance of zero-knowledge proofs.

According to Buterin, Ethereum’s consensus layer is improving due to developments like the beam chain. However, the execution layer still lags in performance. The Vitalik Buterin RISC-V proposal presents a radical but calculated attempt to modernize Ethereum’s core processing engine and make it more competitive against monolithic chains like Solana or Sui.

Keeping Ethereum relevant in a multi-chain world

One of the proposal’s key motivations is Ethereum’s need to remain competitive in an increasingly crowded blockchain landscape. High-throughput blockchains already offer faster, cheaper transactions. By adopting RISC-V, Ethereum developers could unlock better processing speed and flexibility, potentially bridging the performance gap.

Ethereum’s architecture has faced criticism for becoming too dependent on layer-2 solutions. While these solutions reduce transaction costs, they also drain activity from the main chain. This, in turn, leads to reduced fees collected at the base layer, undermining Ethereum’s long-term sustainability.

Buterin emphasized that a more efficient instruction set like RISC-V would enhance zero-knowledge proof performance. ZK tech is expected to be foundational to Ethereum’s future scalability and privacy. As these tools grow in importance, an optimized execution layer becomes essential.

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Vitalik Buterin’s RISC-V proposal could optimize ZK proving

The Vitalik Buterin RISC-V proposal also touches on the economic risks Ethereum faces. Ethereum blob fees dropped to just 3.18 ETH in late March 2025—around $5,000 at current prices. Meanwhile, average transaction costs hit $0.16, the lowest since 2020. These numbers reflect a decline in base-layer activity and threaten Ethereum’s revenue model.

Despite the boldness of the idea, Buterin argues that only a radical overhaul like RISC-V can future-proof Ethereum’s execution layer. If successfully implemented, this change could attract developers and users back to the base layer. It would also allow Ethereum to keep up with its faster, more efficient rivals.

The Vitalik Buterin RISC-V proposal is still in its early stages. But it signals the Ethereum team’s willingness to pursue fundamental innovation in the face of market and technical pressure. Ethereum’s survival as the leading smart contract platform may depend on it.

What is the Vitalik Buterin RISC-V proposal?

Vitalik Buterin’s RISC-V proposal suggests replacing Ethereum’s current EVM with a RISC-V-based system. RISC-V is an open-source instruction set architecture known for performance and modularity. Buterin argues this change would boost Ethereum’s execution speed and enable more efficient zero-knowledge proof generation. This architectural upgrade is proposed as a response to Ethereum’s scalability limitations and growing competition from high-throughput chains like Solana and Sui.

Why is Ethereum considering replacing the EVM?

Ethereum’s EVM is flexible but increasingly seen as inefficient compared to more modern architectures. With scaling challenges and revenue drops on the base layer, Ethereum must evolve. Vitalik Buterin believes replacing the EVM with RISC-V could improve performance, reduce transaction costs, and support more advanced zero-knowledge tech—all essential for Ethereum’s long-term viability.

How would the RISC-V switch affect developers and users?

Initially, a switch to RISC-V would present challenges for developers, who may need to adapt their tools and smart contracts. But over time, it could result in faster execution, cheaper transactions, and broader application potential. For users, this would mean better performance on the Ethereum mainnet, without relying heavily on layer-2 networks.

Could this proposal help Ethereum compete with Solana or Sui?

Yes, that’s part of the goal. Solana and Sui offer high throughput and low fees, attracting developers and users away from Ethereum. The Vitalik Buterin RISC-V proposal is a bold attempt to match or exceed that performance while retaining Ethereum’s security and decentralization. If successful, it could restore Ethereum’s edge in the smart contract space.

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