Vitalik Buterin Responds to Charles Hoskinson’s Ethereum Criticism with Layer-Zero Update

Ethereum

Vitalik Buterin Responds to Charles Hoskinsons Ethereum Criticism with Layer-Zero Update

Ethereum, one of the biggest forces in blockchain technology, is once again under the spotlight.

With growing concerns about its scalability issues, especially as more users turn to Layer-2 platforms like Arbitrum and Optimism, doubts are rising about whether Ethereum can handle the future demand.

Now, co-founder Vitalik Buterin has stepped in with a surprising new plan — and it‘s stirring up major conversation. His latest move comes right after strong criticism from Cardano’s founder Charles Hoskinson , who believes Ethereums days are numbered.

Vitalik Buterin, however, had no intention of letting that prediction go unchallenged.

Is Ethereum really at risk of falling behind？ Or is it about to launch its most powerful upgrade yet？ Let‘s dive into what’s unfolding.

Vitalik Buterins Layer-Zero Update

In a bold move, Buterin introduced a major new upgrade plan: a Layer-Zero proposal that aims to rebuild Ethereums core foundation.

The proposal suggests transitioning from the current Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to a far more efficient zkVM system, based on RISC-V standards.

The improvements this upgrade could bring are nothing short of dramatic:

• It would require up to 832 times fewer computational cycles than the current EVM.
• Proving cycles would be reduced by 95.7%, making transactions much faster.
• Throughput could increase by 30 times thanks to GPU acceleration.
• Proof compression would shrink from 346MB to just 1.5MB, making the blockchain far more lightweight.

If successful, these changes could significantly boost Ethereums efficiency, cut transaction fees, and strengthen its competitiveness in an increasingly crowded blockchain market.

New @VitalikButerin blog post on replacing the EVM with RISC-V in the long-term.

I am a huge fan of this direction for Ethereums execution layer.

Today, RISC-V zkVMs like SP1 are the clear endgame solution for “ZK-ifying” Ethereum and quickly becoming the de-facto solution for

— Uma Roy (@pumatheuma) April 20, 2025

• Charles Hoskinson Confirms XRP Integration and Midnight Airdrop for Holders
• ,

Could Layer-Zero Secure Ethereums Future？

What makes this upgrade particularly important is that it could lessen Ethereums dependence on external Layer-2 solutions.

This strikes directly at the heart of Hoskinson‘s criticism, offering a new path that keeps value within Ethereum’s own network.

By upgrading the base layer, Buterins plan could make Ethereum faster, cheaper to use, and more attractive for both developers and users, helping the network maintain its dominance even as blockchain technology keeps advancing.

Although still in the proposal phase, this upgrade is already making waves. If brought to life, it could dramatically reshape Ethereums future and prove that it is more resilient than its critics claim.

Ethereums Next Big Chapter

Vitalik Buterins quick and forward-thinking response shows that Ethereum is ready to evolve, not retreat.

Rather than being overshadowed by new platforms, Ethereum is preparing to reinvent itself and strengthen its leadership for the long term.

For Ethereum‘s global community of users, developers, and investors, the next few years could be some of the most important in the platform’s history.