Vitalik Buterin recently proposed a radical plan to enhance Ethereum's Layer 1 (L1) execution layer by replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with the RISC-V virtual machine, aiming for efficiency improvements of over 100x. RISC-V, a standardized instruction set architecture, offers significant advantages for blockchain applications, enabling the creation of zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVMs) that can process transactions more efficiently. These zkVMs would allow developers to compile applications in high-level languages without extensive training in cryptography, simplifying the development process and reducing overhead costs. Buterin acknowledges the transition may face significant implementation challenges and coordination issues within the Ethereum community. He notes that while zkEVMs provide a temporary scalability solution, they are resource-intensive and have inherent bottlenecks linked to the EVM's design. Transitioning to RISC-V could effectively address these problems, drastically cutting down zkEVM proving times. The discussion also highlights competing options such as Wasm, suggesting that regardless of the path taken, these changes are crucial for Ethereum's evolution. However, any implementation of these changes is expected to take time.

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