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.