This article examines key aspects of RISC-V, an open command architecture, and its potential to improve the scalability of the Ethereum platform.
What is RISC-V?
RISC-V, pronounced as 'risk five', is a modern open-source instruction set architecture (ISA) based on reduced instruction set computer (RISC) principles. It serves as a blueprint defining a set of instructions that a processor can execute. Originally developed at the University of California in 2010, RISC-V offers developers the flexibility to customize functionality and provides cost savings compared to proprietary architectures like ARM or x86.
Implementing RISC-V in Ethereum
A proposal to add RISC-V to Ethereum was unveiled by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin on April 20, 2025. This proposal involves replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with the RISC-V architecture to enhance the speed and efficiency of smart contract execution. The idea is that RISC-V could address blockchain scalability issues while simplifying the execution of smart contracts and transactions.
Benefits of RISC-V vs. EVM
If RISC-V is implemented in Ethereum’s architecture, it could lead to significant improvements in smart contract performance and processing. According to Buterin, the new architecture could theoretically deliver efficiency gains of 100x, though achieving such numbers may be challenging. The primary improvements are expected to come from eliminating EVM overhead, potentially reducing gas fees and enhancing overall network performance.
The potential implementation of RISC-V in Ethereum opens new opportunities for simplifying and enhancing the performance of smart contract execution. However, realizing this concept will require further discussions and considerable technical effort from the community.
