以太坊联合创始人 Vitalik Buterin 正在将区块链的扩展讨论从第 2 层解决方案重新引导回其基础层。他认为网络的状态树和虚拟机是主要的长期瓶颈，占零知识 (ZK) 技术集成关键证明成本的 80% 以上。
State Tree Redesign with EIP-7864
Buterin 提案的核心是 EIP-7864，它主张用二叉树结构取代以太坊当前的六叉 Merkle Patricia 树。 This architectural shift is projected to produce Merkle proofs approximately four times shorter, significantly slashing verification bandwidth.这一变化有望提高轻量级客户端和隐私应用程序的效率，同时引入相关存储槽的“页面”，可能为某些去中心化应用程序 (dApp) 每笔交易节省超过 10,000 的 Gas。
Long-Term Vision: A Potential Shift from EVM to RISC-V
Buterin 还概述了一个雄心勃勃的长期愿景，考虑从以太坊虚拟机 (EVM) 转向基于 RISC-V 的架构。 He argues that Ethereum's growing reliance on special-case precompiles signals deeper inefficiencies within the EVM.过渡到开源 RISC-V 指令集可以降低复杂性、提高执行效率并更好地与现代 ZK 证明系统保持一致。 A near-term step includes a "vectorized math precompile," described as a "GPU for the EVM," to accelerate cryptographic operations.
Community Debate on Complexity
The proposals have sparked debate within the Ethereum community.分析师 DBCrypto 等批评者警告称，额外的抽象层会增加协议复杂性、引入新的信任假设并扩大潜在的攻击面。这种紧张凸显了一个根本性的困境：是继续在现有设计之上分层解决方案，还是进行基础性的重新设计。
Buterin maintains that as zero-knowledge proofs become essential to Ethereum's roadmap, evolving the core architecture is imperative. He concludes that the next significant phase of scaling may occur not on Layer 2, but deep within Ethereum's protocol core.