➥ The Ethereum EVM Era Ends Here @ethereum is preparing for its most radical change since launch, replacing the EVM with RISC-V. Not a tweak, but a complete re-architecture of the execution layer. How will this change the future of $ETH? Let's dive in 🧵 ... ➠ The Problem with the EVM The EVM unlocked DeFi and NFTs, but today it’s a bottleneck. ➢ zkEVMs run 50–800x slower because every instruction goes through an interpreter instead of executing directly. ➢ The 256-bit stack wastes resources in most operations. ➢ Precompiles add complexity, risk, and consensus fragility. ➢ Outdated design makes compiler optimization harder. Result → expensive proofs, scaling limits, protocol bloat. ... ➠ What RISC-V? RISC-V is a minimalist, open instruction set (~47 base instructions) that has already become the standard for zkVMs (9 out of 10 use it). ➢ Backed by a formal spec (SAIL) → enables proofs of correctness. ➢ Hardware proving path (ASICs/FPGAs) already tested. ➢ Supported by mainstream dev tools ( @rustlang, @golang , Python ). ➢ Lean, simple, and easier to verify than the EVM. It fits perfectly into Ethereum’s broader “Lean Execution” vision. ... ➠ Migration Strategy @VitalikButerin outlines a 3-phase path to move from EVM to RISC-V. ➢ Phase 1: Use RISC-V for precompiles. Low-risk, limited scope, but gives real-world testing. ➢ Phase 2: Run a dual-VM setup where EVM and RISC-V co-exist. Contracts can interact across both, so nothing breaks. ➢ Phase 3: The EVM itself becomes an emulated contract inside RISC-V. Legacy apps keep running, but Ethereum consolidates to one clean execution layer. This gradual path avoids disruption, preserves compatibility, and lets RISC-V prove itself step by step. ... ➠ Why RISC V ➢ ~100x cheaper proofs, path to 10,000 TPS. ➢ Lower fees, faster settlement for users. ➢ Developers gain access to mainstream languages. ➢ ZK rollups benefit massively; optimistic rollups see minimal disruption. ... ➠ Real-World Example Teams are already building with RISC-V at the core. ➢ @SuccinctLabs SP1 zkVM → uses a precompile-centric design to remove cryptographic bottlenecks and achieve faster finality. ➢ @cartesiproject → runs its rollup VM on RISC-V, bringing Linux and mainstream dev tools into Web3. ➢ @RunningCKB → adopted RISC-V early for its flexibility and security in smart contract execution. ➢ @boundlesshq (RISK Zero) → zkVM implementing the full RISC-V ISA as a zero-knowledge circuit, enabling scalable verifiable computation for any chain. ... ➠ Risks The shift to RISC-V comes with real challenges. Gas metering on a general ISA is complex, compilers like LLVM add new trust assumptions, and reproducible builds remain unresolved. Some developers also warn about execution slowdowns and backward compatibility issues. This is why the roadmap is phased: test first, then scale. ... ➠ Wrap-Up This shift has the potential to change Ethereum at its core. From an execution engine weighed down by complexity, to a lean and verifiable base layer designed for scale. If RISC-V proves itself, Ethereum moves closer to becoming the trust layer for global finance and applications. Is Ethereum ready to change from the EVM to RISC-V?