- Buterin stated the usual approach of constructing Layer 2 networks is changing into out of date.
- Community upgrades have enabled the primary Ethereum layer to deal with extra exercise at a decrease price.
- Buterin stated the challenge should use Ethereum expertise and mustn’t use the Ethereum identify in advertising.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin shared one other prolonged put up on X, arguing that the usual approach of constructing layer 2 networks (creating extra EVM chains related via easy bridges) is changing into out of date. He says this area wants really new concepts and a better connection to Ethereum itself, not simply extra likenesses.
Buterin stated that merely creating one other fundamental copy of Ethereum and linking it to a bridge is now not a very good technique. He likened it to endlessly copying outdated DeFi tasks, saying that whereas it is easy to take action, it hinders actual progress.
Ethereum itself has change into sooner and cheaper as a result of latest enhancements. So, thanks to those community upgrades, the primary Ethereum layer can now deal with extra exercise at a decrease price. This implies there may be much less want for a layer 2 community that exists solely to offer cheaper transactions.
This additionally undermines the primary cause individuals used Layer 2 networks within the first place: cheaper costs. In consequence, exercise is returning to the primary Ethereum blockchain in some areas.
In line with Tokenterminal, the variety of month-to-month energetic customers on Layer 2 networks decreased from 58.4 million in mid-2025 to 30 million in February 2026. Throughout the identical interval, the variety of energetic customers on the primary Ethereum blockchain doubled, growing from 7 million to fifteen million.
L2 wants new
Buterin says the brand new Layer 2 community must convey one thing really new. It shouldn’t be only a low cost copy of Ethereum, however ought to supply distinctive options similar to robust consumer privateness, a custom-built setting for particular apps, extraordinarily quick transaction speeds, or specialised makes use of for companies and establishments that require verifiable data.
In his put up, he additionally identified that the challenge mustn’t solely use the Ethereum identify for advertising, but in addition use Ethereum expertise.
He described two methods specialised app chains work.
- Rollups are tightly built-in into Ethereum and are used for final safety and record-keeping when doing heavy lifting off-chain.
- Separate blockchains utilizing Ethereum as a notary obtain transparency by posting verifiable proof of information, even when operating independently.
On this new put up, Buterin basically doubled down on what he stated virtually two days in the past. His feedback that L2 have to be greater than an affordable copy of Ethereum sparked a variety of dialogue within the cryptocurrency group.
Associated: Vitalik says Ethereum L2 must evolve past price scaling
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