Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has recently changed his public position regarding Layer 2 (L2) solutions. From next year, he intends to only talk of L2 projects that are at Stage 1 or above. Buterin wants to focus on projects with a higher level of decentralization, emphasizing maturity and progress. This shift in emphasis marks a turning point for Ethereum’s development.
I take this seriously. Starting next year, I plan to only publicly mention (in blogs, talks, etc) L2s that are stage 1+, with *maybe a short grace period* for new genuinely interesting projects.
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) September 12, 2024
It doesn't matter if I invested, or if you're my friend; stage 1 or bust.
Multiple… pic.twitter.com/4cGxgsfmUc
Raising the Bar for Layer 2 Projects
Buterin’s stance marks a clear break from his previous approach. In the past, he has been more lenient in discussing various L2 projects, even if they hadn’t fully reached certain milestones. However, he now clarifies that personal investments or friendships will no longer influence his decisions.
Stage 1 projects, defined by the ability of at least 75% of council members to override the proof system, with 26% being independent of the rollup team, are the minimum threshold. This represents a new level of accountability and credibility for L2s.
Balancing Innovation with Security
Several ZK-rollup teams have communicated their intent to meet Stage 1 by the end of this year. Buterin sees this development as a critical step toward further decentralization. These ZK-rollups, which allow scaling while maintaining privacy and security, have been a key focus in Ethereum’s ongoing evolution.
Reaching Stage 1 ensures that these projects no longer rely on centralized multi-signature (multisig) setups, which have long been a temporary solution for ensuring liveness and security.
Ethereum Co-founder Buterin Vision for DeFi and StablecoinsButerin however cautions that although advancement is crucial, it should not be at the cost of security. He poses that it will be irresponsible to hurry to eliminate auxiliary security measures before achieving satisfaction on the soundness of cryptographic proof systems. This is important as Ethereum and its Layer 2 scaling solutions move forward and roll out new features and products.
Buterin’s new stance on Layer 2 solutions signifies a pivotal shift toward greater decentralization and maturity in Ethereum’s development. By prioritizing projects that meet the stage 1 criteria, Buterin underscores the importance of robust decentralization and accountability.
