Can EVM Be Replaced? Looking at the Possibility of the RISC-V
2025-04-22
For years, the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) has been the beating heart of the Ethereum ecosystem, powering its smart contracts and enabling the growth of decentralized applications.
But now, Ethereum’s co-founder Vitalik Buterin is asking a big question—what if the EVM is no longer the best tool for the job?
In a recent proposal that’s turning heads across the crypto world, Buterin suggested replacing the EVM with RISC-V, an open-source hardware instruction set architecture.
The idea? Boost the efficiency of Ethereum’s execution layer, slash network costs, and possibly even bring Ethereum back to the forefront of blockchain innovation. Let’s unpack what this means for the ETH community.
Why Is Ethereum’s EVM Under Fire?
To understand why this proposal matters, it helps to know what the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) actually does. The EVM is like the engine of Ethereum—it interprets and runs smart contracts, and it's what makes Ethereum programmable.
Thanks to its consistency, it’s been adopted by a wide range of blockchain networks, from Avalanche to BNB Chain, and even powers layer-2 platforms like Coinbase’s Base.
But as Ethereum continues to scale and evolve, cracks are beginning to show. One of the biggest challenges developers face is how to make Ethereum cheaper and faster, without compromising security or decentralization.
The current EVM, as solid as it is, has become a bottleneck. It wasn’t built with today's demands in mind—especially not for the kind of cryptographic workloads and scaling solutions that are now being prioritized.
What Is RISC-V and Why Does Buterin Like It?
RISC-V is an open-source computer architecture that's already gaining popularity outside of crypto in areas like AI and edge computing.
Buterin believes that RISC-V could deliver massive performance boosts for Ethereum’s execution layer—he even suggested potential “efficiency gains over 100x” for specific workloads. That’s not a small claim.
So what makes RISC-V special?
- It’s open-source and highly customizable, which aligns with the ethos of the Ethereum ecosystem.
- It has built-in encryption support, something Buterin sees as crucial for Ethereum’s future development.
- It simplifies the execution process, which could reduce complexity and, eventually, gas fees.
Instead of re-engineering the EVM to support zero-knowledge cryptography (a complex and time-consuming plan), Buterin argues that a switch to RISC-V might offer a more elegant and long-term solution.
Can Ethereum Really Replace the EVM?
Here’s where things get tricky. The EVM isn’t just part of Ethereum—it’s deeply embedded into the DNA of many other blockchains too. Changing the EVM wouldn’t be like flipping a switch. It would require years of developer coordination, testing, and community consensus.
This is why Buterin framed his proposal as a long-term vision, not an immediate action. Think of it in the same vein as projects like Beam Chain, which aims to revamp Ethereum’s consensus layer over time.
Still, the timing of the RISC-V discussion is important. Ethereum hasn’t been performing as well as many had hoped in 2024 and early 2025.
Transaction volumes are down, and the price of ETH has lagged behind other tokens. The Ethereum Foundation even saw a leadership shake-up recently, due to growing concerns that Ethereum lacked a clear roadmap.
So it’s not surprising that the community is open to bold new ideas. And Buterin’s RISC-V proposal could be the fresh direction Ethereum needs.
Read more about Ethereum (ETH):
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FAQs
What is the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)?
The EVM is the execution engine that runs smart contracts on Ethereum. It allows developers to build decentralized apps that are compatible across Ethereum-based chains.
What is RISC-V?
RISC-V is an open-source instruction set architecture used in computer processors. It’s known for its efficiency, customization, and built-in support for encryption.
Why does Vitalik Buterin want to replace the EVM with RISC-V?
Buterin believes that RISC-V could offer better efficiency, lower costs, and simpler architecture, helping Ethereum scale more effectively in the long term.
Will Ethereum replace the EVM soon?
No, this is a long-term proposal. Any change to the EVM would require years of research, development, and consensus from the community.
How would this impact Ethereum developers?
Developers might need to learn a new execution environment, adapt their applications, and rewrite some code to be compatible with the RISC-V framework if it’s adopted.
Disclaimer: The content of this article does not constitute financial or investment advice.
