Ethereum Leader Vitalik Buterin Advocates for Adopting Bitcoin's Simple Structural Framework
Simplifying Ethereum: A Call for Minimalist Design
In a recent blog post, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has urged the blockchain community to rethink Ethereum's design approach, advocating for a more streamlined and efficient structure. Similar to Bitcoin, Buterin believes such changes could improve efficiency, scalability, and security.
Buterin has highlighted Ethereum's current system as overly complex, warning that its technical depth increases costs, isolates research efforts, and raises the risk ofserious bugs. Moreover, he argues that the current design centralizes too much control among a small group of technically advanced contributors, undermining Ethereum's decentralization ethos.
To tackle these challenges, Buterin suggests simplifying the protocol across all network layers over the next five years. He believes Ethereum can draw inspiration from Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
"Even a smart high school student can fully comprehend the Bitcoin protocol," Buterin wrote. Simplifying the protocol, according to Buterin, will make Ethereum more resilient, reduce infrastructure costs, and lower the entry barrier for developers. He also emphasizes the importance of treating simplicity as a core value, similar to decentralization.
Buterin has identified three key areas where Ethereum can reduce complexity: the consensus layer, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), and standardization across protocol components.
First, he recommends changes to the consensus layer, such as streamlining the finality system and reducing the number of validators. These steps, he says, would lower operational costs and speed up network consensus. Moreover, he points out that the consensus layer is loosely coupled with Ethereum's execution system, providing flexibility for developers to implement improvements without breaking core functionality.
The second area of focus is the EVM. Buterin proposes introducing RISC-V, a simpler and more efficient computing architecture, as an alternative execution option. This, he believes, could lead to the coexistence of RISC-V- and EVM-based contracts. Additionally, he envisions replacing precompiles with a canonical on-chain implementation and building a RISC-V-based EVM interpreter to support future upgrades with better maintainability.
Lastly, he calls for standardization across protocol components. By adopting a single erasure code, serialization format, and Merkle tree, Ethereum could reduce redundancy and enhance the network's clarity. Buterin emphasizes that using different tools for similar functions only adds unnecessary complexity.
These proposals aim to make Ethereum more resilient and efficient, similar to Bitcoin's simplicity while leveraging Ethereum's advanced capabilities.
Enrichment Data:
Major Proposed Changes
Consensus Layer
- 3-Slot Finality Model: This streamlined design eliminates complex components, lowering operational costs and speeding up consensus[1][5].
- Reducing Validator Numbers: Decreasing the number of validators can further simplify the system and potentially speed up consensus[5].
Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
- Introducing RISC-V: RISC-V offers a simpler, more efficient computing architecture. This change could allow developers to write co-existing Ethereum contracts[5].
- Canonical On-Chain Implementation: Replacing precompiles with a canonical implementation could streamline EVM functionality[5].
- RISC-V-based EVM Interpreter: A RISC-V-based interpreter could improve maintainability and facilitate future upgrades[5].
Standardization Across Protocol Components
- Unified Erasure Code: A single erasure code reduces redundancy and enhances clarity[5].
- Standard Serialization Format: Standardizing the format simplifies development and reduces complexity[5].
- Unified Merkle Tree Implementation: A single Merkle tree type maintains consistency and reduces unnecessary complexity[5].
By focusing on these areas, Buterin hopes to make Ethereum more resilient, efficient, and developer-friendly.
- Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum's co-founder, has proposed simplifying the Ethereum protocol, drawing inspiration from Bitcoin's design.
- Buterin believes that streamlining the Ethereum protocol could improve its efficiency, scalability, and security.
- The consensus layer is one area where Buterin sees potential for simplification, proposing a 3-Slot Finality Model and reducing the number of validators.
- In the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sector, Buterin wants to introduce RISC-V, a simpler computing architecture, and standardize serialization formats for improved efficiency.
- He also suggests replacing precompiles with a canonical on-chain implementation and building a RISC-V-based EVM interpreter to support future upgrades with better maintainability.
- Buterin urgently calls for standardization across protocol components, such as adopting a single erasure code and Merkle tree implementation, to reduce redundancy and enhance clarity.
- By implementing these changes, Buterin hopes to make Ethereum as resilient, efficient, and developer-friendly as Bitcoin, while leveraging Ethereum's advanced capabilities.
