Ethereum Layer-2 Vision No Longer Makes Sense: Vitalik Buterin

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has referred to as for a elementary rethink of how Layer-2 networks match into the Ethereum ecosystem, arguing that the community’s authentic rollup-centric imaginative and prescient now not is sensible.

In an in depth X put up on Tuesday, Buterin stated two developments have modified Ethereum’s scaling calculus: the slower-than-expected progress of Layer-2 networks towards full decentralization and fast enhancements in Ethereum’s base layer. With transaction charges remaining comparatively low and fuel limits anticipated to rise considerably in 2026, he stated Ethereum now not wants Layer-2s to perform as “branded shards” of the community.

Layer-2 networks akin to Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base are constructed on Ethereum to assist it course of transactions sooner. Buterin in contrast Ethereum’s important community to a crowded important corridor at a convention.

He stated layer-2s are like overflow rooms the place folks can take part with out crowding the principle corridor whereas nonetheless staying related. Nonetheless, he stated that many L2s have struggled to succeed in larger ranges of decentralization, and a few might by no means meet the safety requirements required to behave as true “extensions” of Ethereum.

Why some Layer-2s don’t totally scale Ethereum

Buterin criticized programs that connect with Ethereum utilizing multisig bridges, saying they don’t totally scale Ethereum. “If you happen to create a ten,000 TPS EVM the place its connection to L1 is mediated by a multisig bridge, then you aren’t scaling Ethereum,” he wrote. He added that some layer-2s might keep centralized on objective to fulfill regulatory or buyer wants. 

“This can be doing the fitting factor in your prospects. However it needs to be apparent that if you’re doing this, then you aren’t ‘scaling Ethereum’ within the sense meant by the rollup-centric roadmap,” Buterin stated.

Rethinking the position of Layer-2s

As a substitute of treating L2s as required “branded shards,” Buterin stated they need to be seen as a variety of networks. Every community can have completely different ranges of connection to Ethereum and provide completely different advantages. These advantages would come with sooner confirmations, extra personal transactions, particular apps, and so forth. What’s vital is that customers needs to be made conscious of what they’re getting by way of advantages.

This alteration in notion comes at a time when Ethereum is being challenged by different scaling options like Solana, which makes use of a single scaling methodology, in addition to adjustments within the Ethereum Foundation in 2025. Researchers are additionally engaged on the right way to enhance the bottom layer and improve the L2s, akin to via PeerDAS, to assist customers entry knowledge extra simply.

Even though there are a number of L2s which were rolled out, only a few of them have managed to go previous their early levels of decentralization. Base, an L2 incubated by Coinbase in 2023, superior to Stage 1 final yr by decentralizing its governance and enabling permissionless fault proofs.

In keeping with Buterin, there are a number of challenges which were affecting L2s, and because of this, a few of them might not be capable of go previous Stage 1 as a result of person or regulatory necessities.

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