Ethereum Virtual Machine

Written by Max Hinchman

Introduction

The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is the software running on the computer of each node participating in the Ethereum ($ETH) protocol. The EVM is referred to as the heart of the Ethereum blockchain because it is a Turing complete software that executes smart contracts.

Ethereum blockchain uses a Solidity to write smart contracts but the EVM cannot directly execute Solidity. The EVM uses a low level language called opcodes and these opcodes allow the EVM to be turing complete. The opcodes can be split into the following: stack-manipulating opcodes, arithmetic opcodes, environmental opcodes, memory-manipulating opcodes, storage-manipulating opcodes, program counter opcodes and halting opcodes. These opcodes are then encoded into bytecodes.

The EVM performs a specific set of task for each transaction on the Ethereum blockchain. It confirms the transaction info: correct number of values, valid signatures and matching nonces. The EVM will reject any transaction with any information that is incorrect. The EVM is also responsible for calculating the transaction fee and initiating the gas payment. Finally, The EVM is also responsible for the transferring of the assets to the correct address. If any of the information required for each stage of the transactions is incorrect, the EVM will reject the transaction and refunds the gas to the sender.

Suggested Reading

The Ethereum Virtual Machine — How does it work? by Luit Hollander

Getting Deep Into EVM: How Ethereum Works Backstage by Vaibhav Saini

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