0xMech

• Intro
• Parallel EVM Introduction
• An Example
• Difference between Sharding and Parallel EVM

Intro#

The Monad project, which has received a large amount of funding, is currently very popular. Today, let's briefly talk about Parallel EVM.

Website: https://monad.xyz/
Discord link: http://discord.gg/monad
Chinese Telegram: https://t.me/Chinads

Parallel EVM Introduction#

Parallel EVM (Parallel Ethereum Virtual Machine) is a method to improve the speed and efficiency of the Ethereum network by running multiple transactions simultaneously.
The traditional Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is the core of Ethereum, responsible for running smart contracts and processing transactions. In the traditional EVM, transactions are executed sequentially. This means that at any given time, only one transaction can be processed.

This can lead to bottlenecks, especially under high network loads. Parallel EVM solves this problem by changing this serial processing mode. It allows multiple transactions to be executed in parallel. This can significantly increase transaction throughput and reduce transaction latency and gas fees. Parallel EVM can be achieved in the following ways:

1. Sharding: Dividing the Ethereum network into multiple partitions, with each partition independently processing its own transactions.
2. Optimized algorithms: Improving the underlying code of the EVM to make it more efficient in handling parallel transactions.
3. Hybrid solutions: Combining the advantages of sharding and optimized algorithms.

Parallel EVM is still in the development stage, but it is considered one of the important directions for the future development of Ethereum. Many projects are dedicated to developing their own parallel EVM solutions, such as:

Neon: L2 Neon EVM, which brings EVM into the Solana ecosystem.
Optimism: L2 parallel EVM using Optimistic Rollups.
Arbitrum: L2 parallel EVM using Optimistic Rollups.
zkSync: L2 parallel EVM using zk-Rollups.

Parallel EVM is expected to address the scalability issues currently faced by Ethereum and pave the way for wider applications.

Here are some advantages of Parallel EVM:

Increased transaction throughput: Parallel EVM can significantly improve the transaction processing capacity of the Ethereum network.
Reduced transaction latency: Parallel EVM can shorten transaction confirmation time.
Lower gas fees: Parallel EVM can reduce transaction costs.
Improved scalability: Parallel EVM can support more users and applications.

Parallel EVM also faces some challenges, such as:

1. Technical complexity: The development and implementation of Parallel EVM are highly technically challenging.
2. Security: Parallel EVM needs to ensure network security while processing transactions in parallel.
3. Consistency: Parallel EVM needs to ensure that all parallel transactions are eventually consistent.

Despite the challenges, Parallel EVM is considered an important opportunity for the future development of Ethereum. With continuous technological advancements, Parallel EVM is expected to overcome these challenges and bring stronger performance and broader application prospects to Ethereum.

An Example#

Simply put, Parallel EVM is like adding more "highways" to the Ethereum network, allowing more "vehicles" (transactions) to pass through at the same time, thereby improving the network's throughput and efficiency.

Here's an example:

Let's say you're going to a party and need to prepare food. The traditional way is for one person to handle all the steps, from purchasing ingredients to cooking, which can take a long time.

Parallel EVM is like inviting your friends to help. Each person is responsible for different steps, such as one person purchasing ingredients, one person preparing utensils, one person cutting vegetables, and another person cooking. This way, each person completes their tasks simultaneously, greatly improving overall efficiency, and the food can be prepared quickly.

In the Ethereum network, transactions are like the "food" that needs to be processed. The traditional EVM is handled by one "chef" (miner) processing transactions one by one, which can cause network congestion and transaction delays.

Parallel EVM allows multiple "chefs" to process transactions simultaneously, just like your friends helping out. This can significantly increase network throughput, shorten transaction confirmation time, reduce gas fees, and support more users and applications.

Of course, the technical implementation of Parallel EVM is much more complex and faces some challenges that need further research and improvement. However, overall, Parallel EVM is one of the important directions for the future development of Ethereum and is worth looking forward to.

Difference between Sharding and Parallel EVM#

Parallel EVM and sharding are both solutions proposed by Ethereum to improve scalability, but there are some key differences between the two.

Parallel EVM focuses on improving the transaction processing capacity within a single shard. This can be achieved by optimizing the underlying code of the EVM or using parallel processing techniques. For example, Neon achieves parallel EVM by introducing EVM into the Solana ecosystem.

Sharding, on the other hand, focuses on dividing the Ethereum network into multiple partitions, with each partition independently processing its own transactions. This effectively distributes network load to multiple nodes, thereby improving overall throughput. For example, Optimism and Arbitrum both use Optimistic Rollups to implement L2 sharding.

In summary, Parallel EVM is like increasing the capacity of a single "highway," while sharding is like adding more "highways."

The following table summarizes the main differences between Parallel EVM and sharding:

Overall, Parallel EVM and sharding are complementary technologies that can be used together to achieve optimal scalability. In the future, Ethereum may adopt both technologies simultaneously to address its scalability issues.