TechFlow reports that on March 2, Vitalik Buterin recently published a detailed post on social media outlining two key upgrade initiatives for Ethereum’s execution layer: state tree improvements and virtual machine (VM) transformation.
The state tree will transition from the current hexary Keccak Merkle Patricia Trie (MPT) to a binary tree structure based on a more efficient hash function (EIP-7864), expected to yield Merkle branches up to 4× shorter and proof efficiency improvements of 3–100×, while also reducing access costs for adjacent storage slots.
In the long-term roadmap, Buterin proposes gradually replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with a RISC-V-based architecture to achieve higher execution efficiency, better proof-friendliness, and a more streamlined protocol design. This transition will proceed in three phases: first, integration into precompiles; second, enabling users to deploy smart contracts written for the new VM; and finally, evolving the EVM itself into a smart contract built atop the new VM.
These upgrades aim to address Ethereum’s primary bottlenecks, enhance network efficiency, and strengthen client-side proof capabilities—laying the groundwork for future scalability.
