Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposed several changes aimed at simplifying Ethereum's structure to improve its efficiency. In his proposal, he emphasizes that the current complex architecture hinders the network from reaching its full potential.
Issues of Ethereum's Complexity
Vitalik Buterin noted that Ethereum needs to shed unnecessary complexities in its management. He pointed out that to achieve scalability and resilience, the network must be simpler. "Ethereum wants to be the world’s ledger," he states, emphasizing the need for simplification in its operational mechanism.
Proposals for Changing the Consensus Layer
As a solution, Vitalik proposed rewriting Ethereum's consensus layer, replacing the current beacon chain with a new mechanism called 3-slot finality. This change would significantly simplify the structure and enhance security. "You could build this in 200 lines of code," he emphasizes, pointing to reduced complications in the fork choice rule.
Revolution in the Ethereum Virtual Machine
Additionally, Vitalik believes that the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) requires substantial reworking. He suggested replacing the EVM with RISC-V or another virtual machine to achieve a 100x increase in efficiency. "Succinct data shows this could boost efficiency by 100x," he noted. This would also allow developers to write contracts in standard programming languages, opening up new possibilities for the ecosystem.
Vitalik Buterin's vision for Ethereum centers around its simplification, which is expected to improve its functionality and resilience. Implementing new approaches could help achieve network goals and strengthen its position as the foundational layer for the crypto economy.