Tezos X is moving from roadmap to rollout, with a shared execution layer for EVM and Michelson applications set to begin testing in May.
Nomadic Labs, Trilitech, and Functori have outlined the next stage of the Tezos X roadmap, with the architecture that enables EVM and Michelson to run together on one system set to begin rolling out.
Originally introduced in 2024, the Tezos X roadmap described a next-generation blockchain architecture that would support multiple tool stacks as a single system. The latest update states that the groundwork is now in place for the first phase of that architecture, starting with a testnet and followed by a governance vote.
Tezos X is described as a new execution layer for Tezos, designed to reduce friction for users and expand what developers can build. Under the model, EVM and Michelson contracts share the same chain and ledger, allowing actions such as a swap and purchase to settle atomically in a single transaction without bridges or wrapped tokens.
The execution layer will initially offer two interfaces: EVM through Etherlink and Michelson through the Tezlink Shadownet testnet. It will be introduced through an Etherlink upgrade proposal that adds a Michelson interface, effectively evolving Etherlink into the execution layer.
The near-term timeline begins in May 2026, when a new testnet is expected to launch with Michelson and EVM interfaces on a shared ledger. In June 2026, an Etherlink upgrade proposal is expected to be submitted to bakers for a governance vote.
If approved, the execution layer would launch on mainnet with both interfaces. In H2 2026, the rollup engine is expected to migrate from WASM to RISC-V, enabling additional runtimes, JIT compilation, and more predictable gas accounting.
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