Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a major overhaul of Ethereum’s execution layer, proposing to replace the existing Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with RISC-V. This radical change could dramatically improve the network’s scalability, efficiency, and ease of use, particularly for zero-knowledge applications. Buterin’s proposal, shared on the Ethereum Magicians forum, highlights the limitations of the EVM in handling complex applications and zero-knowledge proofs. He believes transitioning to RISC-V is essential to simplify and optimize Ethereum’s execution layer, potentially delivering up to 100x improvement in efficiency. The proposal outlines three potential paths for implementation: Native support for both EVM and RISC-V contracts, running EVM contracts through a RISC-V-based interpreter, or integrating interpreters into Ethereum’s protocol. This proposed shift marks one of the most significant technological changes in Ethereum’s development history, reflecting the network’s constant pursuit of greater scalability.