2026-2-5 19:45 |
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is openly rethinking one of the network’s most defining scaling strategies, signaling that the original vision for Layer 2 rollups may no longer make sense unless they evolve dramatically or offer something fundamentally new.
In a recent statement, Vitalik explained that Ethereum’s rapid Layer 1 improvements, combined with slower-than-expected progress across L2 ecosystems, are reshaping how scaling should work moving forward. What was once framed as a rollup-centric future, where L2s functioned as Ethereum’s primary scaling engine, is now colliding with a reality where Ethereum itself is becoming cheaper, faster, and more capable.
There have recently been some discussions on the ongoing role of L2s in the Ethereum ecosystem, especially in the face of two facts:
* L2s' progress to stage 2 (and, secondarily, on interop) has been far slower and more difficult than originally expected
* L1 itself is scaling,…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 3, 2026
According to Vitalik, the ecosystem is facing two major shifts at the same time. First, L2s have struggled to reach advanced decentralization stages and seamless interoperability. Second, Ethereum’s base layer is already scaling aggressively, with low fees today and major gas limit increases projected through 2026.
Together, these developments challenge the original assumption that Ethereum must rely on rollups to achieve meaningful global scale.
Why The Original L2 Vision Is Breaking DownThe early roadmap positioned rollups as “branded shards” of Ethereum, extensions of the main chain that inherited its security, censorship resistance, and settlement guarantees.
In theory, users interacting on L2s would still enjoy Ethereum-grade trust. Transactions would remain protected by Ethereum’s consensus, making L2 block space essentially Ethereum block space at massive scale.
Vitalik now argues that this model no longer holds.
Many L2s have not reached the security thresholds required to fully inherit Ethereum’s guarantees. Some remain dependent on multisig bridges or centralized controls. Others have openly stated they may never advance beyond partial decentralization, not just for technical reasons, but because regulatory requirements demand centralized oversight.
In those cases, Vitalik points out, these networks are no longer truly scaling Ethereum. They function more like independent blockchains with bridges.
At the same time, Ethereum’s base layer is improving so quickly that it no longer needs L2s to serve as core scaling infrastructure. With fees already far lower than in previous cycles and capacity continuing to expand, the urgency that once justified the rollup-first approach is fading.
The result is a mismatch between the original theory and today’s reality.
From “Branded Shards” To A Spectrum Of BlockchainsRather than abandoning L2s entirely, Vitalik proposes a major mental shift in how the ecosystem views them.
Instead of treating L2s as extensions of Ethereum with shared responsibility for scaling the network, he suggests viewing them as a broad spectrum of chains with varying degrees of connection to Ethereum.
Some may remain tightly integrated and fully secured by Ethereum’s consensus. Others may prioritize flexibility, regulatory compliance, performance, or unique features over maximal decentralization.
And that’s not necessarily a problem.
Vitalik emphasizes that not every chain needs to “scale Ethereum” in the strict original sense. What matters is transparency about what each system actually offers in terms of security, control, and trust assumptions.
As Ethereum itself becomes more scalable, L2s gain freedom to specialize, without pretending they are simply shards of the base layer.
This reframing opens the door for innovation that goes beyond raw transaction throughput.
What L2s Must Offer To Stay RelevantWith Ethereum scaling directly on L1, Vitalik argues that L2s now need clear value propositions beyond cheaper block space.
Some of the areas he highlights include:
• Privacy-focused virtual machines and specialized cryptography
• Application-optimized chains built for specific use cases like gaming, trading, or social networks
• Extreme throughput far beyond what even a scaled L1 could provide
• New designs for identity systems, AI coordination, and non-financial data
• Ultra-low-latency sequencing for high-frequency environments
• Built-in oracles and decentralized dispute resolution mechanisms
Rather than competing with Ethereum on generic scalability, L2s should lean into features Ethereum itself is not designed to provide.
Vitalik also stresses that any L2 handling ETH or Ethereum-native assets should, at minimum, reach Stage 1 decentralization. Otherwise, users are effectively trusting a separate blockchain, and projects should be honest about that reality.
Interoperability with Ethereum remains important, but how that connection looks will differ depending on each chain’s architecture and purpose.
Ethereum’s Push Toward Native Rollup InfrastructureWhile the role of independent L2s evolves, Ethereum itself is moving toward deeper built-in support for rollup verification.
Vitalik expresses growing confidence in the idea of a native rollup precompile, a core Ethereum feature that directly verifies ZK-EVM proofs on-chain.
This would make secure rollups a native part of Ethereum rather than relying on external security councils or custom verification contracts.
Key advantages include:
• Automatic upgrades alongside Ethereum’s protocol changes
• Guaranteed fixes via hard forks if bugs emerge
• Standardized, secure EVM proof verification
Over time, this could dramatically simplify how rollups integrate with Ethereum while strengthening their security assumptions.
Vitalik also envisions flexible architectures where Ethereum verifies the EVM portion of rollups, while specialized components, such as privacy layers or alternative execution environments, bring their own proof systems.
This modular approach could allow innovation without sacrificing Ethereum’s core trust guarantees.
A Maturing Ethereum Ecosystem Enters Its Next PhaseVitalik’s comments reflect a broader evolution across the crypto industry.
In Ethereum’s early years, scaling was an existential challenge. High fees threatened usability, and rollups emerged as the primary rescue plan.
Today, Ethereum is no longer standing still.
With steady protocol upgrades, improved efficiency, and upcoming gas limit expansions, the base layer is becoming far more capable than originally anticipated.
That success changes everything.
Rather than forcing all innovation into the rollup framework, Ethereum can now act as a powerful settlement and security layer while allowing a diverse ecosystem of chains to experiment freely.
Some will remain deeply integrated. Others will branch off with new models. Both can coexist.
The rollup-centric roadmap isn’t disappearing, but it is transforming.
L2s are no longer just scaling tools. They are becoming specialized platforms with unique tradeoffs, features, and communities.
And Ethereum, rather than outsourcing its future, is increasingly scaling itself.
The Road Ahead For Ethereum And Layer 2sVitalik’s message is not a rejection of rollups, it’s a recalibration of expectations.
Ethereum no longer needs L2s to simply exist for cheap transactions. It needs them to push boundaries, explore new functionality, and solve problems L1 is not optimized to handle.
As Ethereum’s core grows stronger, the ecosystem is entering a phase of specialization rather than survival-driven scaling.
For builders, that means creativity matters more than copy-paste rollups.
For users, it means clearer tradeoffs and more diverse experiences.
And for Ethereum itself, it signals maturity, a network strong enough to scale on its own while empowering an entire universe of complementary chains.
If the early era was about saving Ethereum from congestion, the next era appears focused on expanding what blockchains can truly do.
Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.
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