I have recently noticed that Boterin has shared some exciting ideas about the future of Ethereum, including new technical details worth paying attention to.

The first topic relates to the state tree — which is fundamental to how the network operates. Currently, Ethereum uses a complex MPT structure, but the new plan proposes transitioning to a more efficient binary tree based on an improved hash function (this points to EIP-7864). The expected result? Reducing Merkle branch lengths by 4 times, which means faster and more efficient proofs — efficiency could improve from 3 to 100 times in some cases.

The second part is more ambitious — replacing the EVM itself with RISC-V. This isn’t a quick change, but a phased plan in three stages. First, it will be used in precompiles, then users will be allowed to deploy contracts using the new virtual machine, and finally, the EVM itself will be converted into a smart contract running on the new architecture.

Why is this important? Because RISC-V offers higher execution efficiency, better compatibility with proof systems, and a much simpler protocol design. For the network, this means overcoming key obstacles and enhancing proof capabilities on the client side.

These are not simple updates — they are a fundamental reengineering of how Ethereum works internally. The focus on a binary tree and efficiency improvements indicates that the team is serious about solving scalability issues in the long term.