EVM vs Non-EVM, Who is the Future Direction

On September 12th, the blockchain wallet MetaMask launched a test version feature called Snaps, which will allow third-party developers to customize wallet features and mechanisms, enabling MetaMask wallet to seamlessly operate assets on non-EVM (Non-EVM) blockchains. This version can be said to be another step towards complete premiseless and decentralization for MetaMask; another noteworthy point is that MetaMask has also started to be compatible with non-EVM. This article will analyze the differences between EVM and non-EVM to further understand the similarities and differences between these two blockchain virtual machines.

EVM and Non-EVM

Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)

The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is the first virtual machine created for the blockchain industry. It is an abstraction layer between physical machines (nodes) and smart contract code. It can isolate programs running on it from each other and separate from the main chain of Ethereum. Simply put, it is a chain made based on the Ethereum ecosystem, allowing for rapid development and iteration. This reduces development workload and avoids starting from scratch. Each Ethereum node runs an EVM instance, working together to form a network or a global decentralized computer. As Vitalik Buterin said, Ethereum is even called the "world computer".

EVM is the heart and soul of the Ethereum network, and it is also the platform for deploying and executing smart contracts. The physical instantiation of EVM cannot be described in the same way as clouds or waves, but it does exist as an entity, maintained by thousands of connected computers running Ethereum clients. EVM is Turing complete, which means it will find an answer if there is a problem. Users can use the Ethereum programming language Solidity to create smart contracts and send them to EVM for interpretation and execution. In simple terms, the benefit of EVM is that it is easier to achieve interoperability with the Ethereum ecosystem. It inherits existing dApps on the Ethereum chain; but the disadvantages are also obvious, as it is constrained by the Ethereum roadmap, which may interfere with the project's plans and must follow the pace of Ethereum.

Non-EVM Virtual Machine

Other blockchains have chosen a different path from EVM compatibility, known as non-EVM blockchains. Non-EVM means completely independent of the Ethereum ecosystem, and developers and projects are rebuilding the blockchain virtual machine. This means that non-EVM is independent of the Ethereum roadmap, so it will have lower costs and faster speeds than Ethereum. However, it also faces many obstacles, as developers and users need to enter a new ecosystem, resulting in higher entry costs. Despite this, it is obvious that non-EVM chains have greater innovation space and are not subject to the limitations of Ethereum.

Differences between EVM and Non-EVM

EVM is compatible with Ethereum, while non-EVM is not compatible with Ethereum. For example, the two are like two different smartphone systems, such as the Android system in our phones is EVM, and the Apple system is non-EVM. So all applications developed based on the Android system can be used on Android phones, which we collectively call EVM, while software developed based on the Apple system cannot be installed and used on Android systems, which we collectively call non-EVM.

Well-known EVM chains include Ethereum, Bsc, Arbitrum, Polygon, Avalanche, etc., while non-EVM chains include Solana, Mixin, DefiChain, Osmosis, EOS, etc.

Currently, most of the top ten blockchains are compatible with EVM, and EVM is still the market leader in public chains. However, the growth rate of emerging non-EVM blockchains is also very rapid.

Functions of EVM and Non-EVM

The functions of EVM and non-EVM (hereinafter referred to as blockchain virtual machines) are to determine and track the state of each network block. Although it sounds like a monitoring tool, it actually refers to state changes, which are signals or reasons for actions in various computer systems. For example, when opening or closing certain content, activating or deactivating, sending or receiving certain content, or moving files or documents, state changes occur. These state changes lead to modifications in the data structure of the computing system.

Blockchain virtual machines can review the changes in the network and dApp states, while solving problems such as network saturation or operation priority, allowing the public chain and its dApps to work in a decentralized manner. In this way, blockchain virtual machines allow any developer to run code in an ecosystem without the need for third-party trust, and the results of software execution and interaction are guaranteed and predictable.

Battle between EVM and Non-EVM

For a long time, there has been a debate between EVM chains and non-EVM chains. Although it seems that the EVM virtual machine is the obvious winner, non-EVM chains such as Solana make this battle worth paying attention to. EVM compatibility is the primary requirement for evaluating public chain platforms.

Leveraging the advantages of Ethereum, public chains compatible with EVM can quickly gain customers and grow in the early stages, benefiting from developer friendliness, user experience, and ecosystem incentives, but they must compete with many other chains in the Ethereum ecosystem. Non-EVM compatible chains are more likely to gain development in emerging trend areas and niche markets. At the same time, various public chains can succeed in NFT, GameFi, and payment fields.

Overall, it is difficult to say which is better between EVM chains and non-EVM chains. Attracting Ethereum traffic is the fastest way for new chains to grow, and EVM compatibility is the most convenient solution; while non-EVM compatibility allows developers to choose development directions according to their needs, without being constrained by the main chain.

Let's take a look at their advantages and disadvantages separately to understand the actual situation of EVM and non-EVM.

Advantages and Disadvantages of EVM and Non-EVM

EVM

Advantages of EVM

As mentioned earlier when introducing EVM, there are no security barriers or restrictions because EVM allows anyone to develop decentralized applications. The scalability of EVM and the relatively simple process of migrating from the Ethereum ecosystem make it easier for users to access projects. Based on the convenience of EVM, NFT has become one of the most popular contents in the encrypted world.

Disadvantages of EVM

Although decentralized, the EVM network is not completely decentralized. The vast majority of Ethereum nodes are hosted on centralized cloud servers of Amazon Web Services. If the operators of these services decide not to like Ethereum for any reason, the nodes may be rejected, thereby damaging the network.

During network congestion, gas fees will be high. This may cause serious inconvenience to Ethereum users, although those sending large transactions may not be affected, those sending small transactions may encounter network access issues for a period of time. When many users interact with DApp smart contracts and execute a large number of transactions, high gas fees will bring many negative impacts to the project.

Due to its bytecode language and rigid native functions, EVM is too complex and does not have enough virtual machine functions to achieve security design. In addition, due to the rules of Ethereum and EVM, designers need to implement many key parts of EVM's functions and execution models on their own.

Non-EVM

Advantages of Non-EVM Blockchains

Non-EVM allows programmers to expand their user base and application scope. For example, projects Raydium and Serum on the Solana chain are exclusive to Solana. Terra was once a unique public chain designed to connect on-chain and off-chain payments. In addition, platforms incompatible with EVM can provide fast transaction times and cheap transactions for end users.

These advantages make non-EVM blockchains a choice that stands out in specific use cases and markets, providing developers and users with more choices and flexibility.

Disadvantages of Non-EVM Blockchains

High development costs: Chains incompatible with EVM may require additional development work to adapt to their unique ecosystem and rules, which may lead to increased development costs.

High barriers: Chains incompatible with EVM may have higher entry barriers for developers and users, as they need to adapt to new tools, technologies, and ecosystems.

Difficulty in project migration: Migrating projects from EVM-compatible chains to non-EVM chains may face some challenges, including the need to rewrite smart contracts and adapt to new ecosystems.

Due to the significant disadvantage in the number of projects, developers are more inclined to choose EVM-compatible chains.

Because they can be quickly replicated and deployed on new chains, which can help save time and costs.

Conclusion

So, who wins in the competition between EVM and non-EVM chains? There is no clear winner between the two, as each situation is unique, and developers must choose a public chain that corresponds to the development path of their project. Different projects and use cases may be more suitable for different chains, so no chain can be absolutely chosen as superior to another; decisions should be based on specific needs and project goals. EVM compatibility can help developers attract traffic and expand the ecosystem, as Ethereum users can quickly migrate to new chains. At the same time, non-EVM compatibility undoubtedly allows developers to experiment and innovate.

In the field of blockchain, no single chain can meet all needs, so developers and project teams must make choices based on their unique goals and use cases to achieve the best results. Therefore, in the long run, the future is not dominated by EVM alone, and the coexistence of multiple chains is the direction of blockchain. After all, the diversity and evolution of the blockchain ecosystem is its essence.

Reference Documents:

https://ethereum.org/en/developers/docs/evm/

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