Vitalik Buterin Explains Why Ethereum Shifted From eWASM to RISC-V
Why Ethereum Abandoned eWASM for RISC-V: Vitalik Buterin Explains the Strategic Shift
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has offered fresh insight into one of the most important technical pivots in Ethereum’s long-term roadmap: the decision to move away from eWASM in favor of RISC-V. Speaking during a fireside chat at Pragma Taipei in April 2025, Buterin outlined how changing priorities, unexpected delays, and rapid advances in zero-knowledge technology reshaped Ethereum’s original plans for its execution layer.
The discussion, which has since circulated widely among developers and researchers, sheds light on how Ethereum’s core philosophy has evolved. Information from the event was later highlighted by Wu Blockchain on X and reviewed by the hokanews team as part of its coverage of major protocol-level developments.
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| source: Xpost |
The Original Vision Behind eWASM
Ethereum’s original execution environment, the Ethereum Virtual Machine, was designed at a time when blockchain applications were still experimental. Over the years, limitations in performance, tooling, and developer experience became increasingly apparent.
To address these issues, Ethereum researchers proposed eWASM, or Ethereum-flavored WebAssembly, as a next-generation replacement. WebAssembly was already gaining traction in the broader software world, offering speed, portability, and support for multiple programming languages.
eWASM was envisioned as a clean break from the legacy EVM. It promised better efficiency, easier developer onboarding, and compatibility with existing tooling from outside the crypto ecosystem. For a time, it was widely viewed as Ethereum’s future execution engine.
Delays Changed the Timeline
According to Buterin, the first major disruption to the eWASM roadmap came from delays surrounding The Merge. The transition from proof of work to proof of stake required enormous engineering focus, absorbing resources that might otherwise have gone toward execution-layer experimentation.
During this period, priorities shifted. Ethereum’s core teams had to concentrate on security, stability, and consensus changes rather than introducing a new virtual machine. As a result, eWASM development slowed.
By the time Ethereum successfully completed The Merge, the broader blockchain research landscape had changed significantly.
The Rise of SNARKs and zkEVMs
While eWASM development stalled, zero-knowledge technology advanced at a rapid pace. Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge, commonly known as SNARKs, became central to Ethereum’s scalability strategy.
SNARKs enable blockchains to verify complex computations efficiently, forming the backbone of zk-rollups and zkEVM implementations. These technologies are critical to Ethereum’s vision of scaling while preserving decentralization.
Buterin explained that SNARK-friendliness became a decisive factor. Ethereum’s future execution environment needed to work seamlessly with zero-knowledge proofs, not just traditional execution models.
This requirement fundamentally altered the evaluation of eWASM.
Why eWASM Fell Short
While eWASM offered many advantages, it was not optimized for SNARK-based execution. Generating zero-knowledge proofs for WebAssembly programs proved more complex and less efficient than expected.
In contrast, zkEVM teams began converging on a different solution: RISC-V. This open instruction set architecture is widely used in hardware design and has a relatively simple, well-defined structure.
According to Buterin, the growing adoption of RISC-V among zkEVM implementations made it increasingly clear that Ethereum’s long-term execution strategy needed to align with this direction.
RISC-V as a Common Standard
RISC-V offers several properties that make it attractive for Ethereum’s future. Its simplicity makes it easier to create efficient zero-knowledge circuits. Its openness avoids vendor lock-in. And its widespread use means a large ecosystem of tools, documentation, and expertise already exists.
Buterin noted that many zkEVM projects independently arrived at RISC-V as their internal standard. Rather than fighting that trend, Ethereum’s core developers chose to embrace it.
This shift reflects a broader philosophy within Ethereum: follow what works in practice, even if it means abandoning earlier plans.
A Pragmatic, Not Ideological, Decision
Buterin emphasized that the move away from eWASM was not an admission of failure, but a recognition of changing realities. Ethereum’s development has always been iterative, shaped by real-world constraints and emerging research.
In earlier phases, eWASM made sense as a way to modernize Ethereum’s execution layer. In today’s environment, where zero-knowledge proofs are central to scaling, RISC-V offers clearer long-term advantages.
The decision underscores Ethereum’s willingness to adapt rather than rigidly adhere to outdated assumptions.
Implications for Developers
For developers, the shift raises questions about tooling and compatibility. However, Ethereum researchers have stressed that this is a long-term architectural direction, not an immediate change that will disrupt existing smart contracts.
The current EVM will remain supported for the foreseeable future. RISC-V represents a future execution target, particularly for rollups and advanced scaling layers.
Over time, developers may gain access to new programming paradigms and performance improvements, while abstracting away much of the underlying complexity.
Ethereum’s Modular Future
The discussion at Pragma Taipei also highlighted Ethereum’s increasingly modular design philosophy. Rather than relying on a single monolithic system, Ethereum is evolving into a layered architecture where execution, data availability, and settlement can evolve independently.
RISC-V fits naturally into this vision. It can serve as a flexible execution target for multiple layers, especially those optimized for zero-knowledge proofs.
This modular approach allows Ethereum to innovate without forcing disruptive changes across the entire network at once.
Broader Industry Impact
Ethereum’s endorsement of RISC-V could have ripple effects across the blockchain industry. Standards adopted by Ethereum often influence tooling, research, and developer priorities elsewhere.
If RISC-V becomes the dominant execution standard for zk-based systems, other blockchains and scaling solutions may follow suit, accelerating convergence around shared infrastructure.
Industry observers note that such convergence can reduce fragmentation and improve interoperability over time.
Lessons From the Pivot
Buterin’s explanation offers a broader lesson about technological development in open systems. Roadmaps are not static. They must respond to breakthroughs, delays, and real-world adoption patterns.
Ethereum’s willingness to pivot reflects its experimental roots. Rather than locking itself into a single vision, the protocol evolves alongside the ecosystem it supports.
As confirmed by information highlighted by Wu Blockchain and reviewed by the hokanews team, the shift from eWASM to RISC-V is less about abandoning the past and more about aligning with the future.
Conclusion
Ethereum’s decision to move away from eWASM toward RISC-V marks a significant moment in its ongoing evolution. As Vitalik Buterin explained, delays from The Merge and the rapid rise of SNARK-based scaling fundamentally reshaped priorities.
By choosing RISC-V, Ethereum is aligning its execution layer with the realities of zero-knowledge technology and the direction of zkEVM development. The move reflects a pragmatic, future-oriented mindset that has long defined Ethereum’s approach.
For developers, researchers, and the broader crypto community, the pivot underscores a simple truth: in fast-moving systems, adaptability is often the most important feature of all.
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Writer @Ethan
Ethan Collins is a passionate crypto journalist and blockchain enthusiast, always on the hunt for the latest trends shaking up the digital finance world. With a knack for turning complex blockchain developments into engaging, easy-to-understand stories, he keeps readers ahead of the curve in the fast-paced crypto universe. Whether it’s Bitcoin, Ethereum, or emerging altcoins, Ethan dives deep into the markets to uncover insights, rumors, and opportunities that matter to crypto fans everywhere.
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