Buterin Proposes Major Revisions to Ethereum’s Core Framework

Vitalik Buterin is redirecting discussions regarding Ethereum’s scalability back toward its foundational elements.

The prominent figure in the cryptocurrency sphere contends that the protocol’s most significant long-term challenges lie not with Layer 2 solutions or blob capacities, but with intrinsic architectural limitations within the state tree and the virtual machine of the Ethereum network.

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Buterin points out that these two components are responsible for over 80% of the costs associated with proof generation. He views this as a crucial challenge, especially as zero-knowledge (ZK) technology becomes an integral part of Ethereum’s future.

He emphasized the importance of focusing on two main areas: modifications to the state tree and enhancements to the virtual machine, both of which are critical bottlenecks that need to be addressed for more efficient proof validation.

The core of his proposal includes EIP-7864, suggesting a shift from the current hexary Merkle Patricia tree to a new binary tree structure. This transformation may appear minor at first glance, but its consequences are profound. The new tree design is anticipated to yield Merkle proofs that are approximately four times shorter than those generated by the existing structure, leading to a significant decrease in verification bandwidth needs.

This advancement is expected to lower costs for lightweight clients and privacy-focused applications alike. Furthermore, the proposal involves the organization of storage slots into ‘pages,’ which would enhance the efficiency of applications that access related data.

Many decentralized applications (dApps) frequently access adjacent storage slots, meaning this upgrade could result in savings exceeding 10,000 gas per transaction under certain conditions.

In addition to the tree modification, Buterin recommended the use of more efficient hash functions, which could further enhance proof generation speeds. Critically, this redesign aims to make Ethereum’s core architecture more accommodating for ZK applications, facilitating their direct interaction with Ethereum’s state rather than forcing them to establish separate systems.

Looking at the bigger picture, the proposed binary tree structure aims to integrate a decade’s worth of insights on state management into a streamlined and future-ready format.

Buterin also envisions profound changes for Ethereum’s execution environment, proposing the eventual transition to a RISC-V-based architecture, which is a widely adopted open instruction set that could simplify and enhance operational efficiency.

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He has observed that Ethereum’s growing dependence on specialized precompiles indicates an underlying discomfort with the EVM. If Ethereum is to fulfill its promise of general-purpose programmability, he argues, the virtual machine should be capable of supporting that promise without excessive deviations from its core structure. A RISC-V framework could:

• Simplify overall design
• Increase raw execution efficiency
• Align more effectively with contemporary zero-knowledge proving systems, many of which already incorporate RISC-V environments.

In the short term, Buterin suggests introducing a ‘vectorized math precompile,’ likened to a ‘GPU for the EVM,’ which could dramatically speed up cryptographic processes.

Looking ahead, he outlined a systematic approach where RISC-V would initially enable precompiles, follow with supporting user-deployed contracts, and ultimately evolve to integrate the EVM as a compatibility layer.

Despite these ambitious proposals, there are dissenting voices regarding the necessity of such profound changes. Analyst DBCrypto has voiced skepticism regarding the increasing complexity of Ethereum’s roadmap, which includes new frameworks aimed at addressing rollup fragmentation.

This proliferation of layers, he argues, not only heightens complexity but also introduces additional trust assumptions and potential vulnerabilities. He noted that Ethereum has proposed yet another layer intended to rectify issues stemming from prior decisions.

This ongoing dialogue highlights a broader question: should Ethereum continue adding solutions on top of its existing framework, or should it focus on rebuilding its core? Buterin contends that as zero-knowledge proofs transition from a niche to a necessity, Ethereum’s architecture must adapt. He asserts that future scaling may need to occur not in Layer 2 but instead at the very heart of Ethereum.