EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine)
EVM
The runtime that executes Ethereum smart-contract bytecode — replicated across all EVM-compatible chains.
EVM compatibility is why a developer can deploy the same Solidity contract to Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, BNB, Polygon, Avalanche, and others. Stablecoin issuers issue against EVM as the primary surface; non-EVM chains (Solana, Sui, Aptos, Tron) require separate canonical issuance.
Related terms
- EthereumThe dominant smart-contract Layer-1 — host to the largest stablecoin float and the deepest DeFi yield surface.
- L2 (Layer-2)A scaling network that inherits security from an L1 by posting state roots back — rollups, validiums, plasma.
- SolanaA high-throughput Layer-1 with sub-second finality — large stablecoin float, distinct ecosystem from EVM chains.