Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, proposes the simplification of the protocol to make it more readable and stable. This initiative comes amid continuous changes and adaptations within the ecosystem.
Back to Simplicity
Buterin's goal is clear: to create a protocol understandable by 'a smart high school student'. To achieve this, he aims to limit critical code to essential components, similar to Bitcoin. The three-slot finality consensus is one key to this simplification, eliminating complex elements like epochs and validator reshuffling. 'A basic implementation of 3-slot finality fits in 200 lines of code', says Buterin.
Transition to RISC-V for Enhanced Performance
The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) has become a 'technical nightmare', and Buterin suggests replacing it with RISC-V, a simple and standardized virtual machine. This transition could lead to performance gains estimated at up to x100 for zero-knowledge proofs. Sassal.eth adds, 'We want tokens to be natively deployed on L1.'
Harmonization of Standards in Ethereum
Currently, Ethereum utilizes multiple serialization formats. Buterin proposes to unify these elements around SSZ for storage, transmission, and execution. This will reduce duplication and enhance system readability. 'The goal is to move as much complexity as possible out of the consensus,' emphasizes Buterin.
Ethereum aspires to become a solid foundation for a broader ecosystem again. By rethinking its layer 1, it hopes to attract developers and asset issuers, restoring trust in the protocol.
