Solia saysMove (linear types), SVM (parallel accounts), and CairoVM (proving-friendly registers) are the major alt-VMs — each redesigned around what the EVM does badly.
The EVM is mature but constrained by its design. MoveVM (Aptos, Sui) introduces resource types: values that can never be copied or dropped silently — preventing whole classes of double-spend bugs at the type-system level. SVM (Solana) uses a register-based model with an explicit accounts model that enables parallel execution when transactions touch disjoint state. CairoVM (Starknet) is designed from day one for STARK proving: simple opcodes, immutable memory tape, friendly to algebraic IR.
Each makes a different trade. Move sacrifices EVM compatibility for safety; SVM sacrifices generality for throughput; Cairo sacrifices ease-of-writing for proof efficiency. The demo lays them out side by side.
Power-ups you unlock
MoveVM: linear resource types prevent double-spend bugs at the type level
SVM: parallel execution via explicit accounts model (Solana)
CairoVM: designed for STARK proving (Starknet)
Each makes a different trade vs the EVM
Compatibility decreases as design innovation increases
The Reentrancy Reaper attacks — common mistakes
Assuming Move is just Rust syntax — its type system is the point
Expecting EVM tooling to work on Solana or Sui
Confusing parallel execution with sharding (different layers)
Treating CairoVM as a general-purpose VM (it is proving-first)
Boss battleCompare a Solidity struct to a Move resource type and explain what double-spend bug class Move prevents.
Example code
<!doctype html><html><head><meta charset="utf-8"></head>
<body style="background:#06040d;color:#e6e0ff;font-family:monospace;padding:20px"><pre id="o"></pre>
<script>
const vms = [
{ name:'EVM', model:'stack-based', state:'mappings', strength:'maturity & ecosystem' },
{ name:'MoveVM', model:'register-based', state:'resource types', strength:'linear types prevent silent copies' },
{ name:'SVM', model:'register-based', state:'accounts', strength:'parallel execution (Solana)' },
{ name:'CairoVM', model:'register-based', state:'immutable memory',strength:'designed for STARK proving' }
];
const sol = 'struct Token { uint256 value; } // can be copied silently';
const move = 'resource Token has store { value: u64 } // CANNOT be copied or dropped';
document.getElementById('o').textContent = [
vms.map(v => v.name.padEnd(8) + v.model.padEnd(16) + v.state.padEnd(18) + v.strength).join('\n'),
'',
'EVM-style (Solidity):',
' ' + sol,
'Move resource:',
' ' + move,
'',
'Move prevents double-spend bugs at the TYPE level — you cannot create a copy of a Token by accident'
].join('\n');
</script></body></html>