Computer processor employing split-stream encoding

A computer processor is operably coupled to a memory system. The memory system is configured to store instruction blocks, wherein each instruction block is associated with an entry address and multiple distinct instruction streams within the instruction block. The multiple distinct instruction streams include at least a first instruction stream and a second instruction stream. The first instruction stream has an instruction order that logically extends in a direction of increasing memory space relative to the entry address of the instruction block. The second instruction stream has an instruction order that logically extends in a direction of decreasing memory space relative to the entry address of the instruction block. The computer processor includes a number of multi-stage instruction processing components corresponding to the multiple distinct instruction streams within each instruction block. The number of multi-stage instruction processing components are configured to access and process in parallel instructions belonging to multiple distinct instruction streams of a particular instruction block stored in the memory system.