Introduction: Why Understand “Virtual Machines”
In the blockchain world, there’s an old saying: “If you don’t understand virtual machines, you can’t understand the soul of smart contracts.”
This isn’t an exaggeration—the Virtual Machine (VM) is the heart of blockchain technology. It determines how code runs across the network, how consistency is maintained, and how cheating is prevented.
If you know nothing about the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine), it’s like owning a supercar without knowing how to shift gears—you may see the numbers, but you’ll never control the true power.
This article will guide you from zero to a full understanding of the EVM—how it ensures blockchain security, stability, and predictability in every transaction.
What Is a Virtual Machine? Starting from Computer Virtual Machines
In traditional computing, a virtual machine is software that simulates a real computer environment. You can run multiple virtual machines on one physical computer, each with its own operating system and resources. The most common example is using a computer to simulate a mobile phone environment—something many users have likely experienced.
The advantages are clear:
Isolates different programs to avoid interference
Simplifies deployment and improves compatibility
Allows the same software to run on different hardware
1. Why Does Blockchain Need a Virtual Computing Environment?
Blockchain nodes are distributed globally. Every transaction must be executed on all nodes with the exact same result. If each machine’s environment differs, results will diverge—and the network could fork.
Thus, the virtual machine provides a standardized and deterministic execution environment: regardless of hardware or OS, as long as the code runs on the same VM, the output will be identical.
2. Blockchain VM vs. Traditional VM
Traditional VM: Focuses on resource isolation, compatibility, and security
Blockchain VM: Focuses on determinism, verifiability, and immutability
The biggest difference: A blockchain VM must produce identical state updates across all nodes, or consensus will fail.
The Birth and Core Mission of the EVM
There are many blockchain virtual machines—EVM, WASM, SVM, MOVE VM, etc.—but the most famous and influential is the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), created by Vitalik Buterin in 2015.
The EVM was designed to make smart contracts execute on the blockchain like legal agreements written in code.
Vitalik once said:
“We’re not just building a system for transferring money—we’re making the blockchain into a decentralized computer.”
The EVM’s mission can be summarized in three points:
Deterministic execution: Every transaction must yield the same result network-wide
Secure isolation: Smart contract code runs in a sandbox, preventing harm to the main chain
Cross-node compatibility: All nodes can interpret and execute the same bytecode
Smart contracts are called “code as law” precisely because they depend on EVM’s execution results as the final judgment. In the EVM, every line of code follows strict rules, consumes a fixed amount of Gas, and changes verifiable state—without third-party interference.
How the EVM Works
1. Bytecode, Gas, and the State Machine
Bytecode: Machine-readable code compiled from smart contracts
Gas: The “fuel” for execution, preventing infinite loops and abuse
State Machine: The system maintaining account balances, contract storage, and block data
Each transaction in the EVM follows these steps:
The node validates transaction legitimacy
Executes the smart contract according to its bytecode
Consumes Gas and returns results
Updates the global blockchain state
2. Core Components: Stack, Memory, Storage
Stack: Temporary data storage (LIFO structure)
Memory: Runtime temporary storage, dynamically scalable
Storage: Permanent on-chain storage; each write consumes Gas
Each component is vital to EVM computation: the Stack ensures speed, Memory handles temporary data, and Storage maintains synchronized state across the network.
3. The Full Contract Execution Process
For example, in a transfer contract:
The user initiates a transaction
The node converts it into EVM bytecode
The bytecode loads into Stack and Memory
Each instruction executes and consumes Gas
Storage updates and the new state is broadcast
All nodes verify consistency—transaction completed
Though complex, this design guarantees determinism and security across the entire Ethereum network.
The Gas Mechanism and Security Boundaries
1. Why Must EVM Execution Require Payment?
Gas is fundamentally a resource consumption fee—it accounts for:
CPU computation
Memory read/write
Disk storage
Without Gas, attackers could endlessly loop smart contracts, crashing the network.
2. The Relationship Between Gas, Computation, and Complexity
The more complex the operation, the more Gas it consumes.
Writing to Storage costs far more than Memory operations
Cross-contract calls stack Gas costs, raising on-chain expenses
3. How Gas Limits Prevent DDoS Attacks
Every transaction has a Gas limit. If execution runs out of Gas, the state rolls back—but part of the Gas is still consumed.
This ensures:
Attackers can’t deplete resources for free
Contracts must be optimized for efficiency
Network stability is maintained
The EVM Ecosystem and the Wave of Compatibility
1. EVM-Compatible Chains
Beyond Ethereum mainnet, many blockchains have adopted EVM compatibility:
BSC (Binance Smart Chain)
Polygon
Avalanche
Fantom
EVM compatibility means developers can deploy the same smart contracts on multiple chains without rewriting code.
2. Why Everyone Chooses “EVM Compatibility”
Saves time and lowers the development barrier
Leverages existing toolchains like Remix, Truffle, and Hardhat
Simplifies cross-chain asset and application migration
3. Cross-Chain Interoperability and EVM Bytecode Standards
The standardization of EVM bytecode enables cross-chain bridges and DEX interoperability.
As long as developers follow the EVM specification, their contracts can operate across multiple chains—greatly enhancing the vitality of the ecosystem.
EVM’s Limitations and the Rise of Next-Generation Virtual Machines
1. Performance Bottlenecks
Single-threaded execution limits throughput
Global state synchronization restricts scalability
High Gas costs make on-chain operations expensive
2. Challenges from New Virtual Machines
WASM (WebAssembly): Multi-language support, higher performance
SVM (Solana VM): Parallel transaction processing for higher throughput
Move VM (Diem/Aptos): Secure type system preventing fund vulnerabilities
3. EVM 2.0 and zkEVM
EVM 2.0: Aims to boost performance and reduce Gas consumption
zkEVM: Integrates zero-knowledge proofs for privacy and verifiable computation
These innovations seek to preserve EVM’s ecosystem advantages while addressing its performance and security limits.
Appendix: Glossary of Virtual Machine Terms (20 Entries)
VM (Virtual Machine): Software simulation of a computer environment for isolated program execution.
EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine): The execution engine of the Ethereum network that runs smart contracts.
Gas: A unit measuring the computational cost of executing smart contracts, preventing resource abuse.
Bytecode: Machine-readable code compiled from a smart contract’s source code.
Opcode: Instruction set within bytecode that tells the EVM what operations to perform.
Stack: A temporary data area following the Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) principle.
Memory: Temporary, expandable runtime storage during contract execution.
Storage: Permanent on-chain storage preserving contract states.
State: The collective data of all account balances and contract storage.
Transaction: An operation that transfers assets or invokes a smart contract on the blockchain.
Contract (Smart Contract): Self-executing, immutable code agreement.
Node: A computer maintaining the blockchain ledger and executing EVM calculations.
Consensus: The mechanism ensuring all nodes agree on the same blockchain state.
Fork: A situation where the blockchain diverges into multiple possible chains.
WASM (WebAssembly): A high-performance, multi-language virtual machine standard.
zkEVM: An EVM variant integrating zero-knowledge proofs for privacy and verifiability.
SVM (Solana Virtual Machine): Solana’s high-throughput parallel execution environment.
Move VM: A secure VM designed for the Move language, used by Aptos and Diem chains.
Cross-chain: Mechanisms enabling asset and data exchange between blockchains.
Deterministic Execution: The property ensuring identical inputs produce identical outputs on all nodes.
Conclusion: The EVM Is More Than a Machine—It’s a Consensus
The EVM may appear to be just a virtual machine, but it embodies the trust, determinism, and security of smart contracts.
In the future blockchain world—be it DeFi, NFTs, or cross-chain ecosystems—virtual machine technology will remain indispensable.
To understand the EVM is to understand the core logic of blockchain: how digital assets flow securely through a global network.
The SuperEx Education Series aims to help you grasp these fundamental concepts—so you won’t just see numbers, but understand the powerful mechanisms behind them.
