1. A method for a memory unit that includes a memory and a programmable circuit, the memory unit being configured in communication with a virtual machine executed by a processor, the method for the memory unit comprising: receiving, from the virtual machine being executed by the processor, a request at the memory unit, wherein: the request includes a request to access the memory in the memory unit, the request specifies a program, the program includes one or more instructions to configure circuitry of the programmable circuit to perform one or more operations on data stored in the memory included in the memory unit, the programmable circuit includes a circuit configurable in accordance with one or more programs, the one or more programs include the program, and the program is associated with the virtual machine being executed by the processor; in response to receiving the request, configuring the circuitry of the programmable circuit, in accordance with the program, to perform the one or more operations on the data stored in the memory included in the memory unit, wherein the programmable circuit includes one or more of a field-programmable logic array (FPGA), a semi-programmable application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a digital signal processor; and operating the programmable circuit to perform the one or more operations on the data stored in the memory in accordance with the program.