Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin published a lengthy post on X, arguing that the original vision of Layer 2 networks as the primary scaling solution for Ethereum has become obsolete. L2 progress toward full decentralization (stage 2) lags far behind expectations, while Ethereum’s mainnet is scaling faster than anticipated with transaction fees dropping and gas limit set for a major increase in 2026. This shift forces a re-evaluation of L2’s role.
The Gap Between Vision and Reality
Vitalik revisited Ethereum’s scaling intent: true scaling means creating block space backed by Ethereum’s full security—ensuring validity, censorship resistance, and irreversibility. Chains relying on multisig bridges or L1 support, even with high throughput, do not count as real scaling. Yet L2s are slow to reach stage 2, interoperability remains messy, and L1 itself is quickly expanding.
L1 Scaling Changes the Game
Vitalik noted that Ethereum’s Layer 1 now possesses direct scaling capacity, reducing the need for L2s to act as “branded shards.” As L1 gas limit rises, more transactions can be settled cheaply on the main chain, eroding the “scaling Ethereum” narrative as L2s’ unique selling point. He suggests viewing L2s as a spectrum: some chains genuinely backed by Ethereum’s reputation, others with varying degrees of connection, letting users choose based on security and decentralization preferences.
Future Directions for L2s: Privacy, Specialized Apps, Ultra-Low Latency
If he were leading an L2 today, Vitalik said he would emphasize core values beyond scaling—such as privacy-focused non-EVM VMs, extreme efficiency for specific applications, ultra-high scalability, novel designs in non-financial domains (social, identity, AI), ultra-low latency sequencing, or built-in oracles and decentralized dispute resolution. For L2s that involve ETH or Ethereum native assets, at least stage 1 security is required; others should be positioned as independent L1s. Different L2 types should maximize interoperability with Ethereum.
Technical Solutions: Native Rollup Precompile and Enshrined ZK-EVM
Vitalik expressed strong confidence in the “native rollup precompile”—a built-in precompile function to verify ZK-EVM proofs, automatically upgrading with the mainnet and fixable via hard fork. Combined with an enshrined ZK-EVM proof, this simplifies full EVM verification. He proposed that the precompile focus on EVM verification, while L2s with extra features provide their own provers. Standardized lookup tables can enable trustless interoperability and unlock synchronous composability, greatly boosting cross-chain potential.
Vitalik acknowledged that in a permissionless ecosystem, some L2s may introduce trust-dependent or insecure designs—a necessary cost of freedom. Ethereum’s responsibility is to clearly communicate the level of guarantees to users and continue strengthening the mainnet base. L2s should not merely extend L1, but innovate to create genuinely unique value.