Vitalik Buterin has outlined a two-part plan to address key bottlenecks in Ethereum's execution layer, focusing on the state tree and virtual machine. The proposal aims to improve efficiency for zero-knowledge proofs, shifting emphasis from Layer 2 solutions to core protocol changes. It includes replacing the current state tree structure and exploring a transition to a RISC-V-based virtual machine.
Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum's co-founder, detailed his proposal on March 1, 2026, targeting what he describes as the network's primary constraints: its state tree and virtual machine. These components, he stated, account for more than 80% of proving costs as zero-knowledge (ZK) technology gains prominence in Ethereum's roadmap.
Buterin emphasized, “Today I’ll focus on two big things: state tree changes, and VM changes,” adding that they represent “the big bottlenecks that we have to address if we want efficient proving.” The first part involves EIP-7864, which would replace Ethereum's hexary Merkle Patricia tree with a binary tree design. This shift could produce Merkle proofs roughly four times shorter, reducing verification bandwidth and making lightweight clients and privacy-preserving applications more feasible. The new structure would also organize storage slots into “pages,” enabling more efficient data loading for decentralized applications (dApps). Buterin noted that this could save more than 10,000 gas per transaction in cases where dApps access adjacent storage slots. He suggested combining it with more efficient hash functions to further speed up proof generation, making Ethereum's base layer more “prover-friendly” for ZK applications.
The second part envisions moving beyond the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) toward a RISC-V-based architecture. RISC-V, an open instruction set, could reduce complexity, enhance execution efficiency, and better align with ZK proving systems that already use it internally. In the near term, Buterin proposed a “vectorized math precompile,” likened to a “GPU for the EVM,” to accelerate cryptographic operations. Longer-term, RISC-V would initially power precompiles, then support user contracts, and eventually incorporate the EVM as a compatibility layer.
The proposal has sparked debate. Analyst DBCrypto criticized the increasing abstraction in Ethereum's roadmap, arguing that additional layers add complexity, trust assumptions, and attack surfaces. This reflects broader discussions on whether to build atop the existing design or fundamentally rework it. Buterin maintains that such evolution is essential as ZK proofs become central to scaling.
