Recently, Vitalik Buterin wrote a detailed article about the major upcoming changes to Ethereum, and I see this as a significant move for the network's future.

The first is about the state tree. Instead of continuing to use the current six-branch Keccak MPT structure, Ethereum will transition to a more efficient binary tree model (according to EIP-7864). The idea here is to use a more optimized hash function to build this binary tree structure. What’s the result? The length of Merkle branches can be reduced to a quarter of the current size, and proof verification performance can increase from 3 to 100 times depending on the case. Additionally, it reduces costs when accessing adjacent storage cells.

The second relates to the EVM. Buterin proposes gradually replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine with a RISC-V architecture. The main reason is to achieve higher execution speeds, easier proofs, and a simpler protocol design. This process will occur in three phases: first applying it to precompiles, then allowing users to deploy contracts with the new VM, and finally transforming the EVM into a smart contract running on the new VM platform.

Overall, these upgrades aim to address the weaknesses Ethereum is currently facing. The optimized binary tree will help the network process data faster, while transitioning to RISC-V will provide a more solid foundation for client-side proofs. All of this together prepares Ethereum for a leap forward in performance and scalability in the future.