EVM Compatibility Explained

EVM compatibility refers to a blockchain's ability to execute contracts developed for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) 1. The EVM is the runtime environment for smart contracts on the Ethereum network 1.

When a blockchain is EVM-compatible, it means it can support smart contracts written in Solidity, the primary language for Ethereum smart contracts, as well as other EVM smart contract languages 1.

Key Implications of EVM Compatibility

EVM compatibility is a significant feature for scaling solutions and competing smart contract platforms because it allows for seamless integration with the Ethereum ecosystem 1.

Developer Migration: Smart contracts written for the Ethereum Mainnet will also function on EVM-compatible chains 1. This makes it easier for developers to deploy their decentralized applications (dApps) to the compatible chain, often requiring only the deployment of the existing smart contract to the new chain's Remote Procedure Call (RPC) interface 1.
Scaling Solution: EVM-compatible sidechains are considered a useful scaling solution for Ethereum-native dApps 1. By moving dApps to these chains, users can benefit from lower gas fees and faster transactions, especially when the Ethereum Mainnet is congested 1.
Ecosystem Adoption: Many smart contract platforms have adopted EVM compatibility to leverage Ethereum's established developer base and infrastructure 2 3.

EVM vs. Non-EVM Platforms

The smart contract ecosystem is often divided into platforms that are EVM-compatible and those that are not 2.

EVM-Compatible Platforms

These platforms support the Ethereum Virtual Machine, enabling compatibility with Ethereum-based smart contracts 2. Examples of platforms that have been identified as EVM-compatible include 2 4:

Ethereum 2 4
Binance Smart Chain (BSC) 2 4
Polygon 2 4
Avalanche 2 4
Fantom 2 4
Arbitrum 2 4
Celo 2
Optimism 4
Cronos 4
EOS (via EVM+)

Non-EVM Platforms

These platforms do not utilize the Ethereum Virtual Machine, often prioritizing unique architectural approaches 2. Examples of platforms identified as non-EVM include 2 6:

Solana 2 6
Terra 2 6
Klaytn 2
Cardano 6
Polkadot / Cosmos 6

Non-EVM platforms differentiate themselves through features like high speed and low fees (Solana), layered smart contract architectures (Cardano), or multi-chain capabilities (Polkadot/Cosmos) 6.

Architectural Example

The Berachain Polaris EVM Architecture illustrates how EVM compatibility is implemented 7. This architecture includes a Polaris Ethereum component, which is responsible for EVM operations and is built on an Embedded Host Chain 7. Key components within this architecture include:

State Processor ("Geth EVM"): Handles the execution of the Ethereum Virtual Machine and operations on Ethereum smart contracts 7.
RPC Backend: Provides an interface for remote calls to the blockchain, supporting interactions via JSON RPC/gRPC server 7.
Plugins: The underlying host chain uses various plugins to manage functionality, such as the State Plugin, Gas Plugin, and Precompile Plugin 7.

This modular approach allows the system to support Ethereum's ecosystem while maintaining flexibility for custom functionalities 7.

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