RISC-V and CKB-VM: An Innovation in Blockchain Technology

The evolution of blockchain technology has brought significant advances in the field of smart contracts. In this context, virtual machines play a crucial role as a bridge between the blockchain and these contracts.

The concept of a virtual machine, although it emerged in the 1960s, did not gain popularity until the 1990s. At that time, the diversity of operating systems and browsers posed a challenge for application developers. The arrival of Java and its virtual machine revolutionized this landscape, allowing code to be written once and executed on multiple platforms.

In the realm of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin does not incorporate a virtual machine due to its focus on simple transfers. However, Ethereum introduced the idea of executing complex code on the blockchain, leading to the current smart contract platforms.

The Virtual Machine on the Blockchain

In the blockchain ecosystem, the virtual machine serves as the execution environment for smart contracts. Unlike traditional virtual machines, those used in blockchain must ensure identical outcomes across all nodes, regardless of differences in hardware or software.

Ideal Characteristics of a Blockchain Virtual Machine

After extensive research, several key features for an optimal blockchain virtual machine have been identified:

1. Determinism in execution
2. Robust security
3. Transparency in information
4. Flexibility to support various programming languages

The Choice of RISC-V for CKB-VM

The Nervos CKB team chose to build its virtual machine, CKB-VM, using a real CPU instruction set, specifically RISC-V. This decision is based on the pursuit of greater flexibility and efficiency in the execution of smart contracts.

RISC-V, an open-source CPU instruction set, offers significant advantages:

• Simplicity and clarity in its architecture
• Broad support from industry and academia
• Ability to adapt to various computing devices

The RISC-V Foundation and its Impact

The RISC-V Foundation, established in 2015, promotes the development of this instruction set. With more than 235 members, including tech giants and prestigious academic institutions, RISC-V is rapidly gaining ground in the computing world.

RISC-V vs. Traditional Instruction Sets

Compared to x86 and ARM, RISC-V is distinguished by:

• Its compact and efficient design
• Its open-source nature
• Greater flexibility and less complexity

RISC-V in the Context of Blockchain

The application of RISC-V in blockchain represents an innovative approach. Although it is a bold attempt, it promises to bring hardware and software industries closer together, potentially enriching the blockchain development ecosystem.

The Vision of CKB

The choice to develop CKB-VM based on RISC-V reflects the philosophy of Nervos CKB to create a flexible, secure, and scalable Layer1 infrastructure. This decision positions CKB as a universal platform capable of supporting various Layer2 solutions, ZKP computation, and autonomous evolution of Layer1.

In conclusion, the adoption of RISC-V in CKB-VM represents a step forward in the pursuit of a more efficient and versatile blockchain, redefining low-level programmability in this emerging field.