Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has unveiled plans to simplify the network’s base protocol, targeting a more efficient, secure architecture akin to Bitcoin’s. In a blog post, he proposed changes to the consensus and execution layers, including a move to a simpler architecture (RISC-V) and introducing a “3-slot finality” model to enhance safety. This simplification comes as Ethereum faces declining dominance in the blockchain market, underscoring the need for a more streamlined approach.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is on a mission to simplify the Ethereum blockchain, envisioning a more efficient and user-friendly platform inspired by Bitcoin’s straightforward architecture. In a recent blog post titled “Simplifying the L1,” Buterin detailed his plan for restructuring Ethereum’s foundational elements, including its consensus and execution layers, with a target of achieving this simplification in around five years.
In his blog release dated May 3, Buterin stressed that simplicity is crucial for the network’s resilience and long-term scalability. He noted that recent upgrades, like the shift to proof-of-stake (PoS) and the integration of advanced cryptographic tools such as zk-SNARKs, have made Ethereum stronger, yet, the additional complexity has resulted in lengthy development cycles and increased operational costs. He highlighted that previous decisions, including some of his own, contributed to these inefficiencies and security vulnerabilities.
Focusing on the consensus aspect, Buterin proposed a new model dubbed “3-slot finality.” This intends to cut down on complicated elements such as epochs and validator shuffling, thereby streamlining the process. The idea is that fewer active validators at any moment can lead to safer, simpler implementations of the fork choice rule, which he argues enhances security and effectiveness.
Buterin didn’t stop there; he also suggested improvements involving more straightforward fork choice rules and leveraging Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge (STARK)-based protocols to help decentralise and simplify network operations even further. On the execution side, he has pitched a transition from Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to a more straightforward, ZK-friendly architecture like RISC-V. This shift could yield significant performance enhancements, estimated at around 100 times faster for handling zero-knowledge proofs, making the underlying protocol simpler.
RISC-V is an open-source instruction set architecture that embodies a minimalist design, employing a limited number of simple commands. For maintaining backward compatibility, Buterin recommended running legacy EVM contracts via a RISC-V interpreter while enabling both systems to coexist during a transitional phase.
Buterin also called for more standardisation across the Ethereum protocol. He envisioned a single erasure coding method, a uniform serialization format with a preference for Secret Shared Zero (SSZ), as well as a singular tree structure to help cut down on the inconsistencies that have crept into Ethereum’s tools and infrastructure over time. He likened the quest for simplicity to the notion of decentralisation and proposed a target for a maximum line-of-code, reminiscent of what Tinygrad aims for, keeping critical logic straightforward and easy to audit. Non-essential legacy components could be retained but pushed outside the main specifications.
This push for simplification comes at a time when Ethereum is reportedly losing some of its market share to rival blockchains. During the LONGITUDE event hosted by Cointelegraph on May 2, Alex Svanevik, CEO of Nansen, remarked on the shifting landscape, indicating that Ethereum’s previously unassailable position among Layer 1 networks is no longer a given. “Three to four years ago, I would have confidently said Ethereum would dominate crypto. Now, it’s evident that’s shifting,” Svanevik stated, highlighting the urgency behind Buterin’s simplification efforts.
As Ethereum navigates this transformative phase, Buterin’s vision may be critical to reclaiming its competitive edge in an increasingly crowded field of blockchain technologies.
