Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, has reiterated his concerns about the Layer 2 ecosystem, cautioning that the industry seems to be stuck in a cycle of imitation rather than innovating new infrastructure. He made these remarks in a post on X recently.
Buterin pointed out that creating “another EVM chain with an optimistic bridge and a one-week delay” is akin to a repetition of governance styles within blockchain. It reflects a trend where familiar cryptographic designs are reused rather than exploring novel concepts.
He believes this leads to an environment that prioritizes familiarity over originality.
“We don’t need more copy-paste EVM chains,” he stated, noting that Ethereum is itself growing and will soon provide significantly more block space than it has now. Although not limitless, this expansion challenges the traditional role of rollups, which primarily exist to offer a cheaper alternative to Ethereum.
Buterin also shared his observations about the reactions to his comments on Layer 2. He noted that merely having a bridge doesn’t inherently integrate a project into Ethereum’s core framework, emphasizing that the branding of such projects should accurately reflect their connection to Ethereum.
While he expressed these frustrations, Buterin didn’t completely dismiss Layer 2 initiatives. He suggested two potential paths that still hold promise.
One involves a closely integrated “app-specific” system, where Ethereum plays a leading role in payments, accounts, and validation, while execution takes place elsewhere.
The second approach he mentioned is an institutional or application-driven chain that connects with Ethereum through cryptographic proofs and national commitments. While these systems aren’t Ethereum, they could still further goals of transparency and reliability.
His statements sharpen ongoing discussions as Ethereum fees remain low and base layer capacity increases.
Buterin’s remarks ignited varied responses within the Layer 2 community. For instance, Steven Goldfeder from Arbitrum suggested that his network should be viewed as a close collaborator of Ethereum rather than a part of it. In contrast, Jesse Pollack from Base pointed out that as the base layer enhances, rollups must offer more than just lower fees.
Others, such as leaders from Polygon, interpreted Buterin’s critiques as less of a fundamental threat and more as a prompt for clearer positioning, encouraging Layer 2 projects to clarify the unique value they provide.
