Vitalik Buterin Warns Ethereum Builders Against Clone Chains
- Vitalik Buterin warns that clone EVM chains may slow Ethereum progress over time.
- The Co-Founder says Ethereum scaling can support growth without endless new layer ones.
- Vitalik Buterin also urges builders to explore privacy speed and novel execution models.
Vitalik Buterin has warned Ethereum developers against building copy-paste EVM chains and superficial layer-2 links, saying the trend risks slowing innovation as the ecosystem continues to scale. In a post on X, Buterin said reactions to his recent layer-2 comments exposed a deeper issue, as many projects repeat familiar designs instead of exploring new technical directions.
He focused on teams launching EVM-compatible chains linked to Ethereum through optimistic bridges with week-long withdrawal delays, describing the pattern as convenient but creatively limiting.
Concerns Over EVM Chains and Optimistic Bridges
Buterin compared the current trend to early DeFi governance forks, such as projects that copied models from Compound, which once appeared productive but later constrained experimentation.
He wrote that building an EVM chain without an optimistic bridge is even worse, adding that Ethereum does not need more copypasta EVM chains or additional layer-1 networks. According to Buterin, the Ethereum base layer already scales and will deliver more EVM blockspace over time, which reduces the need for repeated network replicas.
At the same time, he noted that blockspace will not remain unlimited, especially as AI-driven applications demand lower latency and higher throughput across networks. Still, he argued Ethereum can support many use cases without fragmenting into countless independent layer-1 chains that weaken composability.
Preferred App Chain and Institutional Models
In a recent blog post, Buterin said he supports some designs often described as app chains, especially those deeply integrated with Ethereum’s base layer. He described a prediction market model where issuance and resolution occur on the Ethereum mainnet, while trading executes on a rollup that verifies activity directly from layer-1.
According to Buterin, such systems treat Ethereum integration as a core feature, not an afterthought added later to satisfy ecosystem benchmarks. He also discussed a different model involving institutions like governments or platforms publishing cryptographic proofs of database updates on-chain using STARKs.
Buterin said this structure would not be credibly neutral or trustless, since operators could change rules, but it could enable verifiable algorithmic transparency. He added that this transparency could support economic activity otherwise impossible in government registries or social media systems.
Related: Vitalik Buterin Calls for Creator DAO to Lift Crypto Content Standards
Governance and the Future Direction of Ethereum
Beyond technical design, Buterin has raised concerns about how Ethereum governance decisions take shape across the ecosystem. In an earlier blog post, he argued governance should rely less on informal sentiment and more on structured and accountable processes.
Within this context, he urged developers to build systems that introduce new capabilities, including privacy-focused designs, application-specific efficiency, and ultra-low latency execution. He also criticised projects that present themselves as closely tied to Ethereum while maintaining only minimal technical connections to the base layer.
Reactions across the ecosystem have varied, as some developers support a move toward specialised systems, while others say scaling and cost reduction remain top priorities.
As these debates continue, one question now shapes discussion across the ecosystem: can Ethereum’s next phase balance scaling progress with truly original design choices?
