Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shared fresh insight into the role of layer two networks, arguing that the original vision behind L2s no longer aligns with current network realities.
Buterin’s comments come amid growing debate over whether L2s still serve the same purpose for which they were designed, especially as Ethereum’s base layer continues to scale and transaction fees remain historically low.
The Ethereum co-founder highlighted two key developments driving this reassessment. First, progress toward fully decentralized stage two rollups, as well as deeper interoperability, has been far slower and more complex than initially expected. Second, Ethereum’s layer one is scaling directly, with low fees today and gas limit increases projected for 2026.
Buterin revisited the original scaling thesis, which defined Ethereum scaling as creating block space fully backed by Ethereum’s security, censorship resistance, and finality. Under that framework, chains connected through multisig bridges or retaining discretionary control were not truly scaling Ethereum.
Furthermore, Buterin noted that some L2s have openly stated they may never move beyond stage one, not only for technical reasons related to ZK EVM safety, but also due to regulatory requirements that demand ultimate control. While valid for their users, such designs should no longer be framed as scaling Ethereum itself.
Instead, the Ethereum co-founder proposed viewing L2s as a broad spectrum. Some may remain tightly secured by Ethereum, while others operate with looser connections and different trust assumptions.
For L2 builders today, Buterin suggested focusing on value beyond raw scaling, including non-EVM environments, privacy-focused virtual machines, application-specific efficiency, extreme throughput, non-financial use cases such as social or identity, ultra-low-latency sequencing, and integrated oracles and dispute-resolution systems. He emphasized that any L2 handling ETH should at least reach stage one and prioritize interoperability.
From Ethereum’s perspective, Buterin expressed growing confidence in a native rollup precompile that verifies ZK EVM proofs directly on L1. Such a precompile would automatically upgrade with Ethereum, benefit from hard-fork protections, and enable trustless interoperability.
Moreover, it could unlock strong guarantees and synchronous composability, allowing L2s to innovate while remaining securely connected.
Source: https://zycrypto.com/vitalik-buterin-makes-significant-clarifications-on-the-role-of-l2s-in-ethereums-ecosystem/
