Vitalik Buterin Suggests RISC-V Architecture to Enhance Ethereum’s Scalability and Competitiveness

• Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposes a significant overhaul aimed at enhancing Ethereum’s competitiveness against emerging blockchain networks.

• His innovative approach involves integrating RISC-V architecture into the Ethereum platform, which could drastically improve execution efficiencies.

• Buterin stated, “This kind of radical change may be the only viable path” to achieve competitive block production rates while addressing existing bottlenecks.

The Ethereum network faces critical scaling challenges as Vitalik Buterin proposes the RISC-V architecture to enhance performance and competitive viability.

Ethereum’s Scaling Challenges and Vitalik Buterin’s Proposal of RISC-V Architecture

Ethereum, the pioneering blockchain known for its smart contract capabilities, is experiencing substantial scaling challenges that reduce its competitive edge. In light of this, Vitalik Buterin has introduced a groundbreaking proposal to replace the current Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) contract language with the RISC-V instruction set architecture. Buterin argues that adopting this architecture could address long-standing issues that hinder Ethereum’s scalability, including inefficient block production and limited throughput.

Understanding the Implications of Buterin’s Proposal

The proposal focuses on key bottlenecks, including stable data availability sampling and the efficiency of zero-knowledge proofs within smart contracts. Buterin believes that RISC-V could lead to a 100x increase in efficiency for Ethereum’s execution layer, potentially revitalizing the network amidst rising competition from high-throughput blockchains like Solana and Sui.

Ethereum Fees and Market Reactions

Despite the innovative solutions being proposed, Ethereum continues to grapple with declining transaction fees. Recent data from Etherscan revealed that Ethereum’s blob fees plummeted to a weekly low of 3.18 Ether (ETH), equating to roughly $5,000 at current prices. As the network’s average transaction fees hovered around a mere $0.16 in April 2025, the drop has been attributed to lowered transactional activity on the Ethereum base layer.

The Double-Edged Nature of Layer-2 Solutions

Layer-2 scaling solutions, while effectively reducing user costs, are seen as detrimental to the revenue of the Ethereum base layer. Brian Quinlivan, marketing director at Santiment, noted that many users are moving away from the base layer to alternatives that offer lower fees. This shift raises concerns over revenue generation and could further depress Ether prices, which have already been negatively affected, possibly reaching lows around $1,100 if confidence in the platform continues to decline.

Conclusion

Buterin’s proposition to integrate RISC-V architecture presents a potential turning point in Ethereum’s quest for scalability and efficiency. The urgency for such innovation is evident as the network seeks to re-establish its market position against newer competitors. If implemented effectively, these changes could enhance Ethereum’s performance, reignite investor confidence, and address the erosion of the Ethereum base layer’s market share.