Vitalik Buterin Pushes Plan to Make Ethereum as Simple as Bitcoin
By: coinchapter|2025/05/04 15:15:01
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

Wall Street's Most Mysterious Money-Making Machine, Crashing Bitcoin Price at 10 a.m. Sharp Every Day
Jane Street's reputation has continued to suffer in recent years

Key Market Information Discrepancy on February 26th - A Must-Read! | Alpha Morning Report
1. Top News: Major Cryptocurrencies, Including Bitcoin, Surge; Jane Street Halts "10 AM Dump" After Lawsuit
2. Token Unlock: $MIRA, $SAHARA, $HUMA, $BLAST, $ALOT

How was the Backpack staking token swap established?
Backpack is taking a path of unvalidated transactions, requiring a delicate balance between regulators, equity holders, and token stakers.

Can You Still Launch a VC Firm Today?
Put Your Reputation on the Line, Find a Clear Edge, Win a Few Key Trades, and Stay in It for the Long Haul

Claude Cowork Adds Scheduled Task, Jane Street Incident Continues to Stir, What's the Overseas Crypto Community Talking About Today?
What Was Trending for Foreigners in the Last 24 Hours?

Leveraging $6,000 to Move a $200M Market Cap? How Polymarket Creates an "Insider Trading Illusion"
After a large bet on Meteora on Polymarket, the price of MET rose instead of falling within an hour.
WEEX AI Hackathon: $8B Traded, Real AI Strategies Proven
How profitable is AI trading in real crypto markets? WEEX's $1.88M global AI hackathon reveals $8B volume, 227% ROI, API strategy data, and why only 8 of 37 traders made profit.

Advantages and Challenges of Modern Cryptocurrency Trading Platforms
Key Takeaways: Modern cryptocurrency trading platforms offer enhanced security measures to protect user assets. User-friendly interfaces and comprehensive…

Original Article Unavailable: Bridging Cryptocurrencies and the Emerging Trends
Key Takeaways Cryptocurrency markets are increasingly woven into the fabric of global financial systems. With advancements in blockchain…

Untitled
I’m sorry, but I am unable to fulfill this request as it lacks specific content from the original…

The one who bought the Meta stablecoin Diem back in the day is a good friend of SBF.
The original idea was to combine a bank-licensed compliant entity with an underlying clearing network built over three years by a Silicon Valley giant, to enable seamless payments for everything you can imagine

February 25th Market Key Insights, How Much Did You Miss Out?
1. On-Chain Funds: $32M inflow to Ethereum this week; $54.9M outflow from Arbitrum
2. Largest Price Swings: $SN115, $RAVE
3. Top News: Tonight's Circle and NVIDIA earnings reports, AI narrative's impact on crypto market sentiment under scrutiny

Dragonfly Partner Haseeb Conversation: The AI Apocalypse is Far Away; Smart Contracts are Machine-Destined Law
In the world of crypto, the first lesson you learn is the importance of "HODLing" on.

IOSG: DeFi Upward, User Downward; Curator's New Paradigm of CeDeFi
As DeFi matures and grows more complex, the Curator is becoming a key intermediary connecting risk and users.

DDC continues to advance its Bitcoin reserve strategy, with a total holding of 2118 BTC
DDC Enterprise Limited has today announced the additional purchase of 50 bitcoins, increasing its total bitcoin holdings to 2,118 bitcoins. This latest acquisition marks DDC's seventh consecutive week of executing its bitcoin accumulation plan. Based on its current holdings, DDC is ranked 34th in the global publicly traded companies bitcoin holdings list.

From Mining Enterprise to Infrastructure Builder, Bitdeer Unpacks the Survival Logic behind BTC
Profit margins nearing the red line, miners are starting to use Bitcoin as fuel.

How Can Agentic Commerce Empower AI to Start Making Money?
The first wave of moneymaking AIs has arrived, which projects are worth paying attention to

February Correction: Is the Crypto Market Bottoming Out?
Based on historical experience, the most intense phase of this downturn may be about to end.
Wall Street's Most Mysterious Money-Making Machine, Crashing Bitcoin Price at 10 a.m. Sharp Every Day
Jane Street's reputation has continued to suffer in recent years
Key Market Information Discrepancy on February 26th - A Must-Read! | Alpha Morning Report
1. Top News: Major Cryptocurrencies, Including Bitcoin, Surge; Jane Street Halts "10 AM Dump" After Lawsuit
2. Token Unlock: $MIRA, $SAHARA, $HUMA, $BLAST, $ALOT
How was the Backpack staking token swap established?
Backpack is taking a path of unvalidated transactions, requiring a delicate balance between regulators, equity holders, and token stakers.
Can You Still Launch a VC Firm Today?
Put Your Reputation on the Line, Find a Clear Edge, Win a Few Key Trades, and Stay in It for the Long Haul
Claude Cowork Adds Scheduled Task, Jane Street Incident Continues to Stir, What's the Overseas Crypto Community Talking About Today?
What Was Trending for Foreigners in the Last 24 Hours?
Leveraging $6,000 to Move a $200M Market Cap? How Polymarket Creates an "Insider Trading Illusion"
After a large bet on Meteora on Polymarket, the price of MET rose instead of falling within an hour.