Sei Labs has submitted a proposal to shift its Layer 1 blockchain architecture to an entirely EVM-based model. This move aims to enhance user and developer experience ahead of the Giga upgrade. The proposal, outlined in a Sei Improvement Proposal (SIP), calls for deprecating CosmWasm and native Cosmos accounts to simplify the underlying infrastructure.
Sei, built on the Cosmos SDK with EVM compatibility, currently supports both EVM and native Cosmos accounts. This dual architecture has provided flexibility but adds complexity for users and developers alike. The proposal argues that this transition will lead to improved developer experience, simplified infrastructure, and smoother community integration as Sei progresses toward its Giga upgrade. The upgrade is anticipated to achieve over 100,000 transactions per second.
A key aspect of the proposal is the move to only EVM addresses for initiating transactions. This means users will need to convert assets to EVM wallets or exit Cosmos-native ones. The proposal also clarifies that while CosmWasm and native Cosmos message handling would be deprecated, these features will still be used internally for validator operations and core aspects like staking and governance.
The proposal seeks community feedback through the SIP process before any onchain implementation. Since the launch of Sei v2 in July 2024, EVM usage has dramatically increased, solidifying its position within the broader EVM ecosystem.
Sei’s native cryptocurrency has also seen significant traction, reaching a market capitalization of $1.1 billion and surpassing projects like Optimism, Curve, and Raydium.