«Construct one thing that brings one thing actually new. I gave some examples: privateness, application-specific effectivity, ultra-low latency, however my listing is way from full. With that phrase, printed on February 5, Vitalik Buterin as soon as once more attacked the path of second layer (L2) networks in Ethereum.
Buterin’s message was not remoted: he deepened earlier criticisms that had already been reported by CriptoNoticias days earlier than and pointed on to a sample that, in his opinion, dominates the current growth of the ecosystem.
This sample identified by the developer has to do with the proliferation of chains suitable with the Ethereum Digital Machine (EVM) that They replicate the identical technical and narrative design of different networks.
The results of this proliferation, in accordance with Buterin, is an ecosystem the place many L2s find yourself doing the identical factor: executing any sort of transaction cheaper and sooner, with out being differentiated by a selected objective. Moreover, this division fragments the ecosystem.
In his prognosis, connecting “one more EVM chain” to Ethereum via an optimistic bridge turned a handy shortcut, repeated for too lengthy. Such a connection, designed to maneuver funds between networks, introduces deliberate delays earlier than finishing transfers, a friction that, in accordance with Buterin, limits the person expertise and doesn’t justify repeating that mannequin.
Confronted with this scheme, Buterin expressed in 2021, and reaffirmed it in January 2026, his desire for zk-rollupsa sort of L2 that use cryptographic proofs to show the validity of transactions and permits a extra direct and environment friendly relationship with the bottom layer.
“We do not want any extra copied EVM chains, and we positively do not want any extra new base layers,” he wrote, ruling out each the proliferation of generic L2s and the creation of latest top-level chains.
Vitalik’s criticism of consolation
Though Vitalik doesn’t use the phrase “laziness” actually, his textual content is crossed by ideas that time in that path.
He speaks of getting “settled in”, of repeating recognized formulation and of having exhausted the collective creativeness. It isn’t, in accordance with his method, an absence of particular person capability, however quite structural incentives that push groups to decide on the shortest path.
A kind of components is the dependence on current instruments. The EVM stack, that’s, the set of instruments, languages and requirements that enable sensible contracts to be executed on Ethereum, gives a confirmed atmosphere, with mature libraries and builders accessible, which reduces technical dangers.
Added to that’s the strain to pitch quickpushed by funding cycles and expectations of enterprise capital returns, which reward pace over deep experimentation.
On this context, copying a recognized design is simpler than exploring new architectures.
Ethereum scales, but it surely would not remedy every thing
One other central level of the message is that Ethereum is scaling its personal base layer. The proof of that is that, as reported by CriptoNoticias, L1 is at historic highs in day by day transactions and, on the identical time, its community commissions at traditionally low ranges.
This conduct is because of technical enhancements, such because the proposal known as EIP-4844 included within the Dencun replace, March 2024. This EIP optimized the administration of huge volumes of information in Ethereum by creating the blobs, the house that L2s use to retailer their data outdoors the principle community. To the cut back competitors for house inside blocksthe replace helps hold charges low even with excessive community exercise.
Together with the extent of transactions and low charges, Ethereum’s on-chain exercise displays important progress. For instance, the variety of energetic wallets, community staking, stablecoin quantity, amongst others.
Along with all this, the bottom layer of Ethereum, said its co-founder, will increase its EVM-compatible block house. This may happen, primarily, as a product of the expansion of the gasoline restrict per block, which permits including increasingly operations in every block.
That method, nonetheless, is just not with out debate inside the ecosystem. Some builders warn that elevating the gasoline restrict might improve {hardware} necessities to function nodesmaking its operation costlier and, consequently, growing the dangers of centralization within the community.
Whereas the expansion of block house is not going to be infinite or with out tensions, Vitalik acknowledged that industries comparable to synthetic intelligence (AI) will demand much more capability and decrease latency. Even so, he maintained that the rise in house per block can be sufficient to query the necessity to multiply redundant infrastructure.
From that perspective, launching new L2s simply to “relieve” Ethereum misses the purpose. The query turns into one other: what does this community present that the L1 can’t, or mustn’t, supply instantly?
For Vitalik, the reply lies not in metrics comparable to transactions per second (TPS), however in particular capabilities that increase the capabilities of the ecosystem.
Two legitimate paths to innovate
In his message, Vitalik outlined two approaches that you just take into account affordable.
The primary is so-called software chains, the place vital parts, comparable to accounts or issuance, reside on Ethereum, whereas execution is moved to a specialised L2.
The second corresponds to institutional infrastructures that, with out being Ethereum or aspiring to complete neutrality, present verifiable algorithmic transparency, for instance, in public registries or digital platforms.
Each fashions, he maintained, may very well be synergistic with Ethereum in the event that they clarify their function and don’t attempt to current themselves as one thing they don’t seem to be.
Beneath that framework, some current initiatives appear to align with Buterin’s name. Though it doesn’t point out it, an instance is Payy Community, an L2 launched on February 4 on Ethereum with a selected goal: enabling personal funds with stablecoins.
This community doesn’t search to compete with the L1 in computational phrases, however quite to supply confidentiality, low prices and fast finality. in a selected sort of transaction.
The point out doesn’t suggest an specific endorsement of Vitalik, but it surely does illustrate the kind of method his message suggests: much less repetition and extra specialization.
