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Vitalik Buterin’s push for RISC-V could redefine Ethereum’s core architecture, enabling up to 100x efficiency gains and bolstering ZK-EVM functionality.
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With new upgrades on the horizon, Ethereum’s pivot to RISC-V may reignite user activity and improve long-term scalability and competitiveness.
According to the Paradigm Warning reported by Crypto News Flash (CNF)—suggesting that Ethereum must speed up updates or risk losing ground to Solana and ADA—Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has introduced a transformative proposal: replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with the RISC-V instruction set architecture.
This proposed update aims to enhance the network’s efficiency and scalability, addressing long-standing challenges in Ethereum’s execution layer.
Addressing Ethereum’s Scalability Challenges
Buterin’s proposal targets several bottlenecks hindering Ethereum’s scalability, such as data availability sampling and zero-knowledge EVM proving, as detailed in a recent tweet post by Bitcoin.com News:
Buterin argues that this shift could lead to efficiency gains exceeding 100 times, especially by optimizing the proving process for zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (ZK-EVMs). The proposal outlines various implementation strategies, including supporting dual VMs for backward compatibility and potentially converting existing EVM contracts to run on a RISC-V interpreter.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a transformative idea to replace the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with RISC-V as the primary virtual machine language for smart contracts. This move aims to enhance the efficiency and scalability of Ethereum's execution layer.…
— Bitcoin.com News (@BTCTN) April 21, 2025
By adopting RISC-V, an open-source and modular instruction set, Ethereum could achieve significant performance improvements—potentially up to 100x, according to Buterin. This shift would also keep block production markets competitive and improve the efficiency of zero-knowledge functions.
Impact on Transaction Fees, Network Activity, and Ethereum’s Price Outlook
Vitalik Buterin’s proposal to adopt RISC-V represents a significant step toward improving Ethereum’s execution layer.
While the network currently faces challenges such as reduced activity and low transaction fees, the proposed changes and upcoming upgrades could enhance its efficiency and scalability—potentially boosting user adoption and positively influencing ETH’s market performance.
Alongside a recent CNF update suggesting that, after weeks of drawdown, Ethereum’s price is now on track for a potential rebound—despite the recent drop in transaction fees and network activity—the proposed adoption of RISC-V, along with upgrades like Pectra and Fusaka, could significantly bolster Ethereum’s competitiveness.
At the time of writing, Ethereum (ETH) is trading at $1,642.60, reflecting a 3.16% increase over the past day and a 0.02% decrease in the past week. See ETH price chart below:
