«Build something that really brings something new. I’ve listed some examples such as privacy, application-specific efficiency, and ultra-low latency, but my list is far from complete. With this phrase published on February 5th, Vitalik Buterin once again attacked the direction of Ethereum’s Layer 2 (L2) network.
Buterin’s message was not isolated. He deepened his previous criticism, already reported by CriptoNoticias a few days ago, and directly pointed out that: In his opinion, this is the pattern governing recent developments in the ecosystem.
This pattern, noted by developers, is related to the proliferation of chains compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). These replicate the same technical and narrative design as other networks.
According to Buterin, the result of this proliferation will be an ecosystem where many L2s will be doing the same thing, performing all types of transactions cheaper and faster, without being differentiated by specific purpose. Furthermore, this fragmentation fragments the ecosystem.
In his diagnosis, connecting “yet another EVM chain” to Ethereum via an optimistic bridge became a convenient shortcut that had been repeated for far too long. This type of connection is designed to move funds between networks, and there is an intentional delay before the transfer is completed. According to Buterin, this friction limits the user experience and does not justify repeating the model.
In the face of this plan, Buterin announced in 2021 and reaffirmed in January 2026. zk roll upusing a cryptographic proof, prove the validity of the transaction This allows for a more direct and efficient relationship with the base layer.
“We don’t need any more copied EVM chains, and we definitely don’t need a new base layer,” he said, ruling out both the proliferation of generic L2 and the creation of new top-level chains.
Vitalik’s criticism of comfort
Although Vitalik does not use the word “laziness” literally, his writing is traversed by concepts pointing in that direction.
He is “calm”, repeating known formulas, and exhausted the collective imagination. His approach is that it’s not a lack of individual ability, but rather structural incentives that encourage teams to take the shortest path.
One of those factors is; Dependency on existing tools. The EVM stack, a set of tools, languages, and standards that allows smart contracts to run on Ethereum, provides mature libraries and a proven environment available to developers, reducing technical risk.
In addition to that, Pressure to throw fastDriven by funding cycles and venture capital returns expectations, speed is valued over deep experimentation.
In this context, copying a known design is easier than considering a new architecture.
Ethereum will scale, but it won’t solve everything
Another central point of the message is that Ethereum is scaling its own base layer. As proof of this, as reported by CriptoNoticias, L1 is hitting historic highs in daily transactions; Its network fees are at historically low levels.
This behavior is due to technical improvements such as a proposal called EIP-4844 included in the March 2024 Dencun update. This EIP blob, Space used by L2 to store information outside of the main network. fart Reduce contention for space within blocksthis update helps keep your rates low even when there’s a lot of network activity.
In addition to transaction levels and low fees, Ethereum’s on-chain activity reflects significant growth. For example, number of active wallets, network staking, amount of stablecoins, etc.
In addition to all this, regarding Ethereum’s base layer, its co-founder said: Expand EVM-compatible blockspace. This primarily occurs as a result of increased gas limits per block. There are more and more operations in each block.
However, this approach is not without controversy within the ecosystem. Some developers have warned that increasing gas limits could result in: Increased hardware requirements to run the nodeThis results in higher operational costs and, as a result, higher centralization risks within the network.
Vitalik acknowledged that while the growth of blockspace is not limitless or without tension, industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) will require more capacity and lower latency. Still, he argued that the increase in space per block is enough to question the need for more redundant infrastructure.
From that perspective, launching a new L2 just to “rescue” Ethereum misses the point. The problem will be different. What does this network offer that L1 cannot or should not offer directly?
For Vitalik, the answer lies not in metrics like transactions per second (TPS), but in specific features that extend the functionality of the ecosystem.
Two effective paths for innovation
Vitalik said in his message: Two approaches that seem reasonable.
The first is the so-called application chain. In this chain, critical components such as accounts and issuance reside on Ethereum, and execution is moved to a specialized L2.
The second corresponds to Ethereum and institutional infrastructures that do not aspire to complete neutrality but provide verifiable algorithmic transparency, for example in public registries and digital platforms.
He argued that both models could have synergy with Ethereum if they explain their role and don’t try to present themselves as something they are not.
Under that framework, some recent efforts seem to be in line with Buterin’s call. One example, although not mentioned, is Payy Network. This is L2, which was launched on Ethereum on February 4th with the specific purpose of enabling private payments via stablecoins.
This network does not aim to compete with L1 in terms of computation, but rather to provide confidentiality, low cost, and fast finality. in certain types of transactions.
This reference does not imply an explicit endorsement of Mr. Vitalik, but it does indicate the type of approach his message suggests: less repetition, more professionalization.
(Tag Translation) Blockchain
