Vitalik Buterin Reveals Ethereum Layer 2’s New Role

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced on February 3 a major update to the Layer 2 (L2) ecosystem as Ethereum’s Layer 1 (L1) scales faster than expected. The change responds to slow L2 progress toward stage 2 maturity and upcoming increases in L1 gas limits projected for 2026.

These developments reduce the original need for L2s to serve as “branded shards” of Ethereum. L2 networks should prioritize actual value, not merely increased transaction speed.

Buterin mentioned alternatives such as privacy-oriented virtual machines, highly efficient specialized purpose chains, extremely fast sequencing, decentralized oracles, and novel applications such as social media, identity, or AI apps.

L2 networks handling ETH or other Ethereum assets should at least meet stage 1 requirements and integrate properly with the main chain.

Also Read: Ethereum (ETH) Faces Brutal 20% Crash Warning

Specialized L2 Features Replace Generic Scaling

This affects how the network developers and investors should think about L2s. Ethereum scaling solutions that claimed to be an extension of Ethereum can now concentrate on what differentiates them from L1.

For instance, some L2s can remain at level 1 because of regulations and maintain control over their network, but they won’t play a major role in scaling Ethereum.

In this way, the new approach to the goal of Layer 2 enables the system to allow new ideas to be tested while ensuring that users are protected.

According to Buterin, native rollup precompiles make it easier to verify ZK-EVM. The precompiles are integrated into the network and upgrade automatically with Layer 1.

Ethereum Introduces Hybrid Rollup Design

Buterin talked about a new hybrid rollup concept to make components more easily combined. Rollups with sequencing roll transactions off-chain in a fixed order, with very low delays. Delays are determined by L1 in based rollups, so L1 and L2 liquidity can respond in real time.

There are three types of block structures in the system: regular sequenced blocks, slot-ending sequenced blocks, and based blocks. The L2 sequencers produce the sequenced blocks quickly for low latency and then append slot-ending blocks so that the builders can construct based blocks that interact with L1.

Source: Ethresear.ch

This allows L2s to be innovative and maintain the core security and finality properties of the network. For the development, trading, and investment communities, this means that L2s will concentrate more on special features rather than general scaling.

This is a sign of the maturity of the network, as scaling on L1 eliminates bottlenecks and allows L2s to try new things.

Also Read: Ethereum Drops as ETH/BTC Weakens and $12.4 Million Scam Hits Market