Vitalik Buterin Questions Ethereum Layer-2s, Wants Their Role Redefined

Key Insights

• Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin has said Layer-2s as scaling networks for the Ethereum mainnet no longer make sense.
• He has called for Ethereum L2s to find a new path while offering some recommendations.
• ETH dips slightly as Buterin sells ETH and donates part of the proceeds to his charity.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has called for a re-evaluation of Ethereum Layer-2 networks. In a post on X, Buterin questioned the original purpose of the L2 networks to scale the Ethereum base layer, noting that this no longer makes sense.

According to Buterin, the Ethereum Base Layer is already scaling, with fees and gas limits expected to increase in 2026.

Ethereum Layer-2 Must Find New Path

Buterin highlighted that the need for L2s to redefine their purpose has become evident for two reasons. The first is how slowly they have progressed to stage 2, which signals full decentralization.

The Ethereum founder noted that progress has been more difficult and slower than expected. This, coupled with how L1 is scaling, means L2 no longer exists for the purpose of scaling Ethereum.

In his view, the slow progress towards full decentralization for L2 is not just due to technical reasons but also regulatory ones. However, he noted that this automatically deviates from the rollup vision of Ethereum L2s.

He said:

“But it should be obvious that if you are doing this, then you are not ‘scaling Ethereum’ in the sense meant by the rollup-centric roadmap. But that’s fine! It’s fine because Ethereum itself is now scaling directly on L1, with large planned increases to its gas limit this year and the years ahead.”

Instead of continuing to position themselves as rollup-centric, Buterin recommended that L2s identify other values. He suggested several examples, including specialized non-EVM features, hyper-scaling beyond what L1 can comprehend, specific applications, non-financial applications, etc.

While calling for the L2 pivot, he noted that Ethereum itself needs to make scaling native to the L1. He recommended that Ethereum stakeholders spend more time integrating ZK-EVM proofs into the base layer to enable trustless, secure interoperability with the network.

He said:

“We should spend much more time working out how to design it in such a way that if your L2 is “EVM plus other stuff”, then the native rollup precompile would verify the EVM, and you only have to bring your own prover for the “other stuff.”

ETH Falls as Buterin Sells Almost 500 Ether

Meanwhile, Buterin’s comments represent a complete turnaround from his previous position about L2s. Ethereum stakeholders had focused on scaling the network with L2s.

Unsurprisingly, it has generated many reactions from the crypto community.  Stakeholders in the Solana community, such as Helius Labs CEO Mert Mumtaz and Cyber Capital founder Justin Bons, consider it a public acknowledgment of a key issue.

Interestingly, many in the Ethereum community, such as Fede’s Intern, also praised Buterin. They noted that this could be a step in the right direction for the Ethereum Foundation.

Buterin’s comments on L2s coincide with his decision to sell 493 ETH for $1.16 million. He moved  $500,000 of the funds to Kanro, a biotech charity he founded in 2023.

Following the sale, ETH dipped to $2,100 before recovering. It is now around $4,300 and remains down by almost 25% over the past seven days, amid the general crypto market bloodbath.

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