«Construct one thing that brings one thing actually new. I gave some examples: privateness, application-specific effectivity, ultra-low latency, however my record is way from full. With that phrase, revealed 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, based on Buterin, is an ecosystem the place many L2s find yourself doing the identical factor: executing any sort of transaction cheaper and quicker, with out being differentiated by a selected goal. Moreover, this division fragments the ecosystem.
In his prognosis, connecting “one more EVM chain” to Ethereum by way of an optimistic bridge turned a handy shortcut, repeated for too lengthy. One of these connection, designed to maneuver funds between networks, introduces deliberate delays earlier than finishing transfers, a friction that, based on Buterin, limits the consumer expertise and doesn’t justify repeating that mannequin.
Confronted with this scheme, Buterin expressed in 2021, and reaffirmed it in January 2026, his choice 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 identified formulation and of having exhausted the collective creativeness. It’s not, based on his strategy, a scarcity of particular person capability, however somewhat structural incentives that push groups to decide on the shortest path.
A type of elements is the dependence on present instruments. The EVM stack, that’s, the set of instruments, languages and requirements that permit good contracts to be executed on Ethereum, gives a confirmed surroundings, with mature libraries and builders out there, 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 identified design is simpler than exploring new architectures.
Ethereum scales, however it would not clear up every little 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 each day transactions and, on the similar time, its community commissions at traditionally low ranges.
This conduct is because of technical enhancements, such because the proposal referred to as EIP-4844 included within the Dencun replace, March 2024. This EIP optimized the administration of enormous volumes of knowledge in Ethereum by creating the blobs, the area that L2s use to retailer their data exterior the primary community. To the cut back competitors for area inside blocksthe replace helps maintain 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, acknowledged its co-founder, will increase its EVM-compatible block area. It will happen, primarily, as a product of the expansion of the fuel restrict per block, which permits including increasingly more operations in every block.
That strategy, nevertheless, will not be with out debate throughout the ecosystem. Some builders warn that elevating the fuel restrict might enhance {hardware} necessities to function nodesmaking its operation dearer and, consequently, rising the dangers of centralization within the community.
Whereas the expansion of block area won’t be infinite or with out tensions, Vitalik acknowledged that industries equivalent to synthetic intelligence (AI) will demand much more capability and decrease latency. Even so, he maintained that the rise in area per block will likely 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 shouldn’t, supply immediately?
For Vitalik, the reply lies not in metrics equivalent 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 simply think about affordable.
The primary is so-called utility chains, the place vital parts, equivalent 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 aren’t.
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 somewhat to supply confidentiality, low prices and speedy finality. in a selected sort of transaction.
The point out doesn’t suggest an specific endorsement of Vitalik, however it does illustrate the kind of strategy his message suggests: much less repetition and extra specialization.
