Evan Cheng Criticizes EVM, Proposes Ethereum Redesign

• EVM faces criticism for design limitations and centralization.
• Alternatives like WASM are highlighted for greater efficiency.
• Innovations seek to overcome Ethereum's structural challenges.

Evan Cheng, CEO of Mysten Labs and a veteran of Apple and Meta, has once again criticized the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), describing it as a “fundamentally broken” system. In his view, the EVM has accumulated such significant technical debt that the only viable solution would be to completely abandon its architecture and rebuild it from scratch.

Most tech debt can be paid off, but a broken design is a dead end.

This is why we never prioritized EVM compatibility when building Sui.

EVM is a broken design and it's time for this industry to move beyond dead-end designs. pic.twitter.com/l8JMcQW33V

— Adeniyi.sui (@EmanAbio) January 8, 2025

Cheng argues that the widely accepted “Blockchain Trilemma” in the industry is unfounded and based on flawed premises. He points out that Ethereum’s current model centralizes validation power in a few staking pools, compromising the decentralization that should be a core feature of blockchain networks. For Cheng, this structural flaw demonstrates that Ethereum’s design is not only ineffective, but also contradicts the principles that the platform claims to uphold.

As a lead developer on Sui Network, a direct competitor to Ethereum, Cheng explained that one of the team’s central decisions was to deprioritize EVM compatibility. This choice, he says, reflects a drive to overcome limitations and create a more secure and efficient infrastructure. He emphasizes that while technical debt can be fixed over time, a broken design like EVM’s requires a radical approach to solve.

Cheng also addressed criticism he has received for opposing Ethereum and Solidity, the EVM’s programming language. Despite the objections, he maintains that Ethereum’s current model represents a “dead end” for innovation in the industry. He says the biggest challenge is not just reshaping the technology, but addressing the dependency of companies, developers, and users on the existing ecosystem.

In addition to Cheng’s criticism, other blockchain industry experts have also expressed similar concerns. The growing popularity of technologies like WASM and solutions like sharding highlights the movement towards more scalable and secure alternatives. These technologies are seen as promising to overcome the limitations that Ethereum currently faces.

At the time of publication, the price of Ethereum was quoted at US$3.281,66, up 0.8% in the last 24 hours.

The debate surrounding EVM underscores the need for constant innovation in the blockchain space, with experts calling for solutions that better meet the demands of security, scalability, and decentralization. As platforms like Sui Network challenge established standards, Ethereum faces pressure to adapt to remain competitive.