The stack-based virtual machine that executes smart contracts on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains (Polygon, Avalanche, BSC, Arbitrum). Programs are compiled to EVM bytecode from Solidity or Vyper. The EVM is single-threaded—all transactions execute sequentially. In contrast, Solana's SVM supports parallel execution and uses a register-based design.
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The stack-based virtual machine that executes smart contracts on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains (Polygon, Avalanche, BSC, Arbitrum). Programs are compiled to EVM bytecode from Solidity or Vyper. The EVM is single-threaded—all transactions execute sequentially. In contrast, Solana's SVM supports parallel execution and uses a register-based design.
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EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) (evm) Category: Blockchain General Definition: The stack-based virtual machine that executes smart contracts on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains (Polygon, Avalanche, BSC, Arbitrum). Programs are compiled to EVM bytecode from Solidity or Vyper. The EVM is single-threaded—all transactions execute sequentially. In contrast, Solana's SVM supports parallel execution and uses a register-based design. Aliases: EVM Related: Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), Solidity
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The Solana Virtual Machine—the execution environment that runs on-chain programs. SVM loads SBF bytecode, provides syscalls for account access and cryptographic operations, enforces compute budgets, and manages memory. The SVM is being modularized (via the SVM API) to enable use in rollups and other environments outside the main Solana validator.
The primary programming language for Ethereum smart contracts. Solidity is statically typed, supports inheritance, and compiles to EVM bytecode. Unlike Solana's Rust-based development, Solidity uses a contract-oriented paradigm where code and state are co-located. Neon EVM enables running Solidity contracts on Solana by emulating the EVM.
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A computing paradigm proposed by Robin Linus in October 2023 that enables verification of arbitrary computations on Bitcoin without consensus rule changes, using an optimistic model similar to optimistic rollups. A prover claims a computation result, and any verifier can execute a fraud proof on-chain to penalize false claims. BitVM2 (2024) reduced dispute resolution to three on-chain transactions and enabled permissionless verification.
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The Solana Virtual Machine—the execution environment that runs on-chain programs. SVM loads SBF bytecode, provides syscalls for account access and cryptographic operations, enforces compute budgets, and manages memory. The SVM is being modularized (via the SVM API) to enable use in rollups and other environments outside the main Solana validator.
The primary programming language for Ethereum smart contracts. Solidity is statically typed, supports inheritance, and compiles to EVM bytecode. Unlike Solana's Rust-based development, Solidity uses a contract-oriented paradigm where code and state are co-located. Neon EVM enables running Solidity contracts on Solana by emulating the EVM.
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A distributed, append-only ledger that records transactions in cryptographically linked blocks. Each block contains a hash of the previous block, forming an immutable chain. Nodes in the network maintain copies of the ledger and reach agreement through consensus mechanisms. Blockchains enable trustless, decentralized record-keeping without a central authority.
The protocol by which nodes in a distributed network agree on the current state of the ledger. Common mechanisms include Proof of Work (Bitcoin), Proof of Stake (Ethereum, Solana), and BFT variants. Consensus ensures all honest nodes converge on the same transaction history despite potential network delays or malicious actors.
A consensus mechanism where validators are selected to produce blocks based on the amount of cryptocurrency they have staked (locked) as collateral. PoS is energy-efficient compared to Proof of Work. Misbehaving validators risk losing their stake (slashing). Solana, Ethereum (post-Merge), Cosmos, and Cardano use PoS variants.
A consensus mechanism where miners compete to solve computationally expensive puzzles to produce blocks and earn rewards. PoW provides strong security (51% attack resistance) but is energy-intensive. Bitcoin and pre-Merge Ethereum use PoW. The difficulty adjusts to maintain target block times regardless of total network hash power.