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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Apr 1, 2023 | Updated May 29, 2023 KEY TAKEAWAYS:— Ethereum Virtual Machine (or EVM) is a virtual computer that distributes information across the entire Ethereum network. It is responsible for executing smart contracts and updating the state of the blockchain.— EVM is not just for Ethereum; many layer one and two blockchains use it, including Polygon, Arbitrum and Avalanche. — EVM has improved interoperability and accessibility, powering countless decentralized applications and other use cases across multiple blockchains.As the world’s most popular blockchain for smart contracts, Ethereum owes much of its success to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). From gas fees to smart contract execution, the Ethereum Virtual Machine is responsible for much of the magic behind the Ethereum blockchain. EVM also powers the ecosystem of other leading blockchains like Polygon, Binance Smart Chain, etc.But what is the Ethereum Virtual Machine, and how does it work?Let’s dig in and find out.What Is the Ethereum Virtual Machine?Ethereum Virtual Machine is software that executes programmable code on the blockchain (smart contracts) and determines the state of Ethereum after each successful block. As a virtual machine, EVM doesn’t have a central computer or cloud — it distributes and executes information across hundreds of computers participating in the network, also called nodes. These nodes all run the same EVM code, which makes it easier to build software on Ethereum.History of the Ethereum Virtual MachineBefore diving deep into what EVM does, let’s first understand how it came to be. Vitalik Buterin introduced the idea of Ethereum in 2013 — creating a decentralized platform for building applications. Vitalik’s idea eventually became the Ethereum network, and at the heart of that network is the EVM. Interestingly, Vitalik claims that BitTorrent was the first decentralized app (or dApp) ever created in 2001. BitTorrent and the EVM are similar in that they are both peer-to-peer networks with no central authority, but they serve different purposes. For instance, BitTorrent is great for a singular purpose i.e, sharing files. But EVM goes beyond just file sharing with decentralized applications (dApps).The EVM provides a secure and reliable environment for running dApps, which is crucial, particularly while handling sensitive data or financial transactions.What Does the Ethereum Virtual Machine Do?Ethereum Virtual machine primarily functions as a runtime environment for smart contracts. You can think of EVM as the “brain” behind the Ethereum network: It executes code and ensures the entire network agrees on the outcome of the code.EVM powers many decentralized applications and NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain. Due to the flexibility and security of smart contracts, these dApps range from play-to-earn games to crypto lending and borrowing applications. With EVM, you can build these dApps in any programming language and execute timely transactions.Further, EVM is capable of Turing completeness, which means that smart contracts can perform any combination of code and complex calculations. This includes complex computations like AI and cryptography, allowing for a wide range of use cases and applications. Therefore, Ethereum dApps benefit from the security of a decentralized network, plus
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