Striving for Simplicity: Ethereum‘s Evolution
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, known for his forward-thinking vision, has laid out an ambitious plan to simplify Ethereum‘s core architecture, aiming to make the network more efficient, secure, and accessible. Drawing inspiration from Bitcoin‘s minimalist design, Buterin believes that a streamlined Ethereum can better weather future challenges and achieve its full potential.
In a blog post titled “Simplifying the L1,” Buterin outlined a roadmap for restructuring Ethereum‘s architecture across consensus, execution, and shared components. This vision, he claims, could bring Ethereum “close to as simple as Bitcoin” within five years.
Addressing Complexity and Embracing Simplicity
While recent upgrades like proof-of-stake (PoS) and zero-knowledge proofs have enhanced Ethereum‘s robustness, Buterin argues that technical complexity has led to bloated development cycles, higher costs, and increased vulnerability to bugs. “Historically, Ethereum has often not done this (sometimes because of my own decisions), and this has contributed to much of our excessive development expenditure, all kinds of security risk, and insularity of R&D culture, often in pursuit of benefits that have proven illusory,” Buterin wrote.
Buterin praises Bitcoin for its simplicity, citing its lean architecture as a key factor in its resilience and long-term scalability. He believes that a similar approach can unlock Ethereum‘s true potential.
Transforming the Consensus Layer
One key area of focus is Ethereum‘s consensus layer. Buterin proposes a “3-slot finality” model, which aims to eliminate complex components like epochs, sync committees, and validator shuffling. This, he argues, will streamline the consensus process, making it more efficient and secure.
Other proposed improvements include adopting Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge (STARK)-based aggregation protocols to decentralize and simplify network coordination. These advancements could lead to a more robust and less complex consensus mechanism.
Reimagining the Execution Layer
On the execution layer, Buterin suggests shifting from the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to a simpler, ZK-friendly virtual machine like RISC-V. This move could significantly boost performance for zero-knowledge proofs and streamline the protocol. RISC-V‘s minimalist design philosophy, with its simple instruction set, is a key reason for its potential.
To maintain backward compatibility, Buterin suggests running legacy EVM contracts onchain via a RISC-V interpreter during a transitional phase. This dual-VM approach would allow for a smooth transition while ensuring compatibility with existing smart contracts.
Standardization and Streamlining
Buterin also advocates for protocol-wide standardization. He suggests adopting a single erasure coding method, serialization format (favoring SSZ), and tree structure to reduce redundant complexity and streamline Ethereum‘s tooling and infrastructure.
He further suggests adopting a “max line-of-code” target, similar to what Tinygrad does, to keep consensus-critical logic lean and auditable. Non-critical legacy features would remain but reside outside the core specification, ensuring a streamlined and secure core.
The Future of Ethereum: A More Accessible and Scalable Network?
Buterin’s proposal comes at a time when Ethereum is facing competition from other blockchains. Critics argue that Ethereum‘s complexity has hampered its growth and adoption. Simplifying the protocol could address these concerns and potentially attract more developers and users.
If successful, Buterin’s vision could result in a more accessible, scalable, and secure Ethereum, ultimately enhancing its position as a leading blockchain platform. Only time will tell if this ambitious plan will be realized and how it will shape the future of Ethereum.
