Vitalik Buterin Pushes Plan to Make Ethereum as Simple as Bitcoin
By: coinchapter|2025/05/04 07:15:01
0
Share
Vitalik Buterin proposed a new plan to simplify the Ethereum protocol. He shared this in a blog post titled “Simplifying the L1” on May 3, 2025. He said Ethereum should aim to become “close to as simple as Bitcoin” within five years. Buterin stated that simplifying the Ethereum base layer would help reduce costs and security risks. He admitted that earlier decisions, including his own, increased technical complexity and created inefficiencies. he wrote. Buterin pointed to the negative effects of overengineering, including delays and increased risk of bugs. 3-Slot Finality Proposed to Simplify Ethereum Consensus Vitalik Buterin proposed 3-slot finality to streamline the Ethereum consensus process. This change would remove existing elements like epochs, sync committees, and validator shuffling. 3-slot finality reduces the confirmation process to three voting rounds within three slots, where validators first propose a block, then vote on it twice to confirm and finalize it. This model removes complex elements like epochs, sync committees, and validator shuffling, aiming to lower protocol complexity, improve safety, and allow for faster and clearer block finality across the Ethereum network. With fewer validators active at a time, the fork choice rule becomes simpler to implement. Buterin wrote. He also proposed using STARK-based aggregation protocols. These are cryptographic systems that allow validators to prove and bundle large amounts of data, such as votes or transactions, into a single proof that others can quickly verify. In Ethereum, these protocols let any participant act as an aggregator without needing trust-based roles or preassigned committees. By removing sync committees and relying on STARKs for coordination, Ethereum can achieve decentralized, efficient validation with reduced overhead, making the network easier to scale while keeping it secure. Ethereum Execution Layer May Shift to RISC-V Buterin wants to change the Ethereum execution layer. He proposed replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with RISC-V, which is a minimal instruction set architecture. RISC-V may help improve performance in zero-knowledge proofs, which are used in Ethereum’s privacy and scalability features. The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is the core component that executes smart contracts on Ethereum. It was designed specifically for the Ethereum network and uses its own set of instructions tailored to blockchain logic. The EVM supports features like account storage, gas metering, and deterministic execution, but its complexity has grown over time. This makes it harder to verify with cryptographic proofs, especially for advanced systems like zero-knowledge proofs. RISC-V, on the other hand, is a general-purpose, open-source instruction set architecture (ISA) commonly used in computer processors. It follows a minimalist approach with a small, consistent set of instructions, making it easier to implement and verify. Vitalik Buterin proposed using a ZK-friendly virtual machine based on RISC-V to simplify Ethereum’s execution layer. This shift could support faster zero-knowledge proof generation and reduce the overall complexity of the protocol, while legacy EVM contracts could still run via a RISC-V interpreter during the transition. He estimated that using RISC-V could offer a 100x performance boost for zero-knowledge systems. This shift could simplify Ethereum’s codebase and improve speed. To maintain compatibility, Ethereum would continue to support the EVM during a transition phase. Old contracts would run using a RISC-V interpreter, ensuring no break in functionality. Vitalik Buterin Calls for Ethereum Standardization Vitalik Buterin also stressed the importance of standardization within the Ethereum protocol. He proposed unifying key technical components such as erasure coding, serialization format, and Merkle tree structure to simplify the network and reduce unnecessary variation across implementations. Erasure coding is a data protection method used to ensure that information can be recovered even if some parts are lost or corrupted. In blockchain systems like Ethereum, it helps store and transmit data more efficiently and securely. Using a single erasure coding method would make data handling more consistent across the network, reducing errors and improving compatibility between different Ethereum clients. Vitalik named Simple Serialize (SSZ) as the preferred serialization format. Serialization refers to the process of converting complex data structures into a format that can be stored or transmitted and later reconstructed. SSZ is a format developed specifically for Ethereum 2.0, optimized for simplicity, performance, and compatibility with Merkle proofs. Standardizing on SSZ would make it easier for developers to build and maintain tools that interact with Ethereum data. He also recommended using a single Merkle tree structure. A Merkle tree is a data structure that breaks down large sets of information into smaller pieces, where each leaf or node contains a cryptographic hash. This allows efficient and secure verification of data without storing all of it directly. Ethereum uses Merkle trees to prove the validity of transactions and states. A uniform tree structure would help Ethereum clients verify and synchronize data more reliably. In addition to technical standardization, Vitalik suggested setting a maximum line count for consensus-critical code—code that directly affects agreement between nodes on the blockchain’s state. He compared this idea to practices in lightweight software projects like Tinygrad, which limit code complexity to keep the system auditable and easier to manage. Shorter, well-organized codebases are less prone to bugs and more transparent to outside developers reviewing or contributing to the protocol. Finally,Vitalik proposed moving features not essential to Ethereum’s core consensus—such as legacy functions or experimental add-ons—outside the base protocol layer. Developers could still use these features, but they would not affect the core rules that secure and define the blockchain. This modular structure keeps Ethereum’s core simple while allowing controlled use of optional extensions.
You may also like
The cryptocurrency industry has become a traditional industry
For entrepreneurs and retail investors still in this industry, they should either embrace the current changes or explore the next unpredictable field in cryptocurrency.
Chip frenzy cooling down? Morgan Stanley's Wilson: Funds are shifting towards AI supercomputing giants like Microsoft and Amazon
Morgan Stanley's chief equity strategist Wilson pointed out that the momentum in the semiconductor sector is waning, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index having dropped nearly 14% from its peak. Funds are shifting towards AI supercomputing giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, as well as sec...
Morning Report | Vitalik outlines Ethereum's long-term roadmap, Lean Ethereum will become the third major iteration; SK Hynix seeks to attract more AI investors by listing in the U.S
July 5 Market Important Events Overview
Trump, the best stock trader among U.S. presidents
Trump has almost turned the presidency into a business and maximized the conversion of presidential influence into commercial profits.
From ByteDance to Financial Freedom: How did "Byte Brother" Leto develop his investment judgment skills to achieve a turnaround of 30 million?
Speak with data and signals, validate judgments with A/B tests, and seek asymmetric returns with limited risk exposure.
Selling coins despite a loss of 55 million dollars, the faith in Strategy has reached the interest payment date
The moment faith was securitized, Bitcoin became a bill.
OUSD False Cooperation Controversy? The Credit Game of Stablecoins and Endorsements by Giants
The success of stablecoins does not rely on rallying a group of alliance members for marketing, but rather on whether they have real use cases and genuine users.
Q-Day Countdown: Will Quantum Computing End Cryptocurrency?
In the face of dormant coins being plundered by quantum computing power, should we firmly uphold the unalterable bottom line of "code is law," or should we enforce a soft fork to freeze legacy assets?
The ten years of Cloud on the Air: From corner coffee to global financial infrastructure
How did a remittance company grow into a financial infrastructure that can replace SWIFT; when it really reaches this scale, how should stablecoins be positioned for it; and what can AI integrate into this infrastructure?
$10,000 in TRUMP Token vs. $10,000 in Nasdaq: The "Trump Trade" That Actually Worked in 2026
TRUMP Token lost more than 96% after its launch, while Nasdaq stocks and NVIDIA delivered strong gains. Compare what happened to a $10,000 investment and explore why asset fundamentals matter more than market hype.
The impact of OUSD on Circle, Tether, and Paxos: not a single negative factor, but a more complex reshaping of competition
OUSD will not be the last new competitor; Circle needs to respond more actively in terms of products, distribution, and ecosystem collaboration.
Li Feifei's latest long article: When video generation, robots, and NVIDIA all claim to be world models, we need a taxonomy
Language gives machines a way to talk about the world. The world model is the means by which machines ultimately understand, imagine, reason, and interact with it.
Blaming the desolation of the cryptocurrency world on the rise of AI is a form of intellectual laziness
The emergence of giants signifies a mature business model. Although it will reduce speculative space, there is also enough room for error, allowing for the continuous emergence of new forces.
Strategy Founder: The Next 10 Years of Bitcoin
In the next decade, the biggest evolution of Bitcoin is precisely "responding to change with invariance." The four-year cycle is giving way to capital flows such as ETFs, corporate and sovereign reserves, and bank credit, while digital credit and digital currency will grow layer upon layer on top of...
Forbes Special Report: Stablecoin cross-border payments are faster now, but not cheaper yet
Cross-border payments using stablecoins are rapidly expanding, bringing speed and accessibility, but due to insufficient institutional liquidity, they have not yet delivered on their promised cost savings. The technology has been validated, and regulations are improving, but the industry has not yet...
A valuation of 8 billion dollars, doubling in 8 months! What makes the crypto-friendly bank Erebor Bank stand out?
Erebor is a high-profile experiment taking place at the intersection of banking, cryptocurrency, and industrial policy.
340 billion valuation: Li Yanhong's largest IPO, a seat in Kunlunxin's shares is hard to come by
As a core asset in Baidu's AI landscape, Kunlun Chip is expected to exceed Baidu's market value after going public, becoming an important bargaining chip in its turnaround battle.
Stablecoins are the "royalists" of the crypto world: Open USD brings the old currency system into play
The emergence of Open USD has shifted the competition for stablecoins from the market struggle of crypto startups to a battle for infrastructure involving traditional finance, payment networks, technology platforms, and public chain ecosystems.
The cryptocurrency industry has become a traditional industry
For entrepreneurs and retail investors still in this industry, they should either embrace the current changes or explore the next unpredictable field in cryptocurrency.
Chip frenzy cooling down? Morgan Stanley's Wilson: Funds are shifting towards AI supercomputing giants like Microsoft and Amazon
Morgan Stanley's chief equity strategist Wilson pointed out that the momentum in the semiconductor sector is waning, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index having dropped nearly 14% from its peak. Funds are shifting towards AI supercomputing giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, as well as sec...
Morning Report | Vitalik outlines Ethereum's long-term roadmap, Lean Ethereum will become the third major iteration; SK Hynix seeks to attract more AI investors by listing in the U.S
July 5 Market Important Events Overview
Trump, the best stock trader among U.S. presidents
Trump has almost turned the presidency into a business and maximized the conversion of presidential influence into commercial profits.
From ByteDance to Financial Freedom: How did "Byte Brother" Leto develop his investment judgment skills to achieve a turnaround of 30 million?
Speak with data and signals, validate judgments with A/B tests, and seek asymmetric returns with limited risk exposure.
Selling coins despite a loss of 55 million dollars, the faith in Strategy has reached the interest payment date
The moment faith was securitized, Bitcoin became a bill.
Customer Support:@weikecs
Business Cooperation:@weikecs
Quant Trading & MM:bd@weex.com
VIP Program:support@weex.com


