Ethereum needs to scale. Badly. We all know it. The clunky UX and high gas fees make it frustrating for everybody. Instead, they are incentivizing users and developers to look for faster, cheaper options. Crying foul over these actions isn’t just a lament — it’s an attack on our existence. Consider it the equivalent of Blockbuster not wanting to switch to streaming – disruption doesn’t wait for you.
RISC-V and zkVMs Are The Answer?
Vitalik Buterin’s move to focus on research is provocative, to say the least. RISC-V and zkVMs are great technology, amazing technology, without a doubt. Let’s face it, they are a long-term moonshot at a time when the house is on fire today. Is all this just us moving deck chairs around on the Titanic while Solana et al are developing speedboats?
Beyond RISC-V, which is an open-source instruction set architecture, there’s a future of more efficient and easily customizable virtual machines. zkVMs (Zero-Knowledge Virtual Machines) open up amazing possibilities for privacy and scalability. They allow for the verification of complex computations without having to share the original data itself.
Here's the rub: these are complex, nascent technologies. Building, testing, and implementing them on a network as large and complicated as Ethereum would take years, if not more. And honestly, how many regular users even know what these are or the advantages that they offer? Imagine trying to convince someone that you have the next great engine design. The average commuter is not an urban progressive activist, but they don’t need or want to have the same thing as the urban progressive activist.
Are Other Solutions Being Overlooked?
Is the Ethereum Foundation so blinded by the glitz and glamour of these next-gen research projects that it’s ignoring solutions that are much easier to implement? Layer-2 scaling solutions such as Optimism and Arbitrum have made great strides but are still not without their limitations. Could additional funding be better spent improving these tried-and-true age-old solutions, or investing in different Layer-2 architectures altogether?
What about trying to advocate for the more radical path, even if it means some level of centralization. Gasp! I know, the horror! But hear me out. After all, at times perfect decentralization becomes the enemy of great usability. A modest hybrid approach would offer a more reasonable balance. In doing so, it strikes a powerful balance between decentralization and performance, particularly over the near-term. It’s similar to the all open-source versus proprietary software debate— there’s a time and place for both.
The Ethereum Foundation’s bet on Buterin’s research is as bold as it is undeniable. If it succeeds, it will transform the entire blockchain space and secure Ethereum’s fate as the preeminent platform for decentralized applications. It's a huge gamble.
| Feature | Buterin's Research (RISC-V/zkVMs) | Existing Layer-2 Solutions | Hybrid Approach (Hypothetical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to Market | Years | Months | Months/Year |
| Complexity | Very High | Medium | Medium/High |
| Decentralization | High | Medium | Variable |
| Risk | High | Medium | Medium |
Revolutionary Or Costly Delay?
If these research projects are slow to be developed, Ethereum will certainly fall behind. Players that prioritize the “low-hanging fruit” quick wins would have an edge by being able to provide greater scalability and usability innovations. It’s the equivalent of a dystopian startup spending all its cash reserves on a lottery ticket of a project, while ignoring its main projects business.
The question is: can Ethereum afford to wait? And can it afford to be passed by other, much faster, easier to use blockchains? The countervailing answer, it seems to me, is an emphatic no.
Here's my recommendation: diversify. It’s a big mistake to bet the entirety of your future tech on RISC-V and zkVM. Further fund and refine the Layer-2 solutions already in the pipeline and proceeding with rollout. Experiment with different scaling ways, including those that make some concessions to decentralization. Most importantly, listen to the users. What are their pain points? What more do they need to start making Ethereum a serious contender and an actually viable platform for all this everyday use?
The Ethereum Foundation should get real and focus on users to deliver scaling in a practical way. While I appreciate Buterin’s research and find it valuable as guidance, this shouldn’t be the end-all-be-all. Ethereum's future depends on it. The clock is ticking.
Here's my recommendation: diversify. Don't put all your eggs in the RISC-V and zkVM basket. Continue to invest in and optimize existing Layer-2 solutions. Explore alternative scaling approaches, even if they involve some compromises on decentralization. And, most importantly, listen to the users. What are their pain points? What do they need to make Ethereum a truly viable platform for everyday use?
The Ethereum Foundation needs to adopt a more pragmatic, user-centric approach to scaling. Buterin's research is valuable, but it shouldn't be the sole focus. Ethereum's future depends on it. The clock is ticking.
