Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has recently discussed the potential benefits of zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (zk-EVMs) on Ethereum’s base layer.
Integrating zk-EVMs on the Base Layer
Buterin believes that integrating zk-EVMs on Ethereum’s first layer would speed up the verification process while maintaining decentralization and security. By doing so, zk-EVMs would become the third type of Ethereum client, just as important to the network’s security as execution and consensus clients are today.
Open zk-EVM Infrastructure
Buterin prefers an open zk-EVM infrastructure, where different clients have different zk-EVM implementations and each client waits for a proof that is compatible with its own implementation before accepting a block as valid. This approach wouldn’t abandon the “multi-client” paradigm and would ensure that new clients could be developed, further decentralizing Ethereum at the base layer.
Advantages of zk-EVMs over Layer 2
Buterin considered the advantages and drawbacks of treating the layer 1 as a “clearinghouse” by pushing almost all activity to layer 2s. He concluded that many layer 1-based apps would become “economically nonviable” and that small funds worth a few hundred dollars or less may get “stuck” in the event that gas fees grow too large. Integrating zk-EVMs would be a solution to “The Verge,” a part of the Ethereum roadmap that aims to make verification at the base layer easier.
Challenges with zk-EVMs
Buterin acknowledged that the zk-EVM infrastructure might cause data inefficiency and latency issues. However, he believes that those challenges wouldn’t be “too hard” to overcome.
The Future of zk-EVMs on Ethereum
If the zk-EVM ecosystem is implemented, it would make running a full node on Ethereum even easier. Ethereum blocks would be smaller than today, and anyone could run a fully verifying node on their laptop or even their phone or inside a browser extension, all while preserving the benefits of Ethereum’s multi-client philosophy.
Other Companies Deploying Similar Solutions
Polygon, a layer-2 scaling platform, has made significant progress with its zk-EVM, recently open-sourcing its zkEVM to the Polygon mainnet on March 27, promising reduced transaction costs and increased throughput of smart contract deployments. StarkWare, ConsenSys, Scroll, zkSync, and Immutable are also deploying similar zkEVM scaling solutions.
Conclusion
Buterin’s support for integrating zk-EVMs on Ethereum’s base layer highlights the potential benefits of this technology in terms of speed, security, and decentralization. If implemented successfully, it could revolutionize the way smart contracts are executed on Ethereum and make running a full node on the network even more accessible to users. The fact that other companies are also developing similar solutions shows that there is a growing interest in this area, and it will be interesting to see how this technology develops in the coming months and years.
