Ethereum L2s Should Rely More on L1, Says Vitalik Buterin

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shared another strong opinion on X. This time, it’s about how Layer 2s (L2s) should be built. He’s encouraging developers to make better use of Ethereum’s Layer 1 (L1) strengths, like security, censorship resistance, and data availability, while keeping L2s as simple as possible. In his view, L2s should mostly act as sequencers and provers.

This approach brings together efficiency and trust – something that enterprise blockchains in the 2010s aimed for but never managed to achieve. But today, Ethereum’s L2 ecosystem is getting closer to making it happen.

Let L1 Do the Heavy Lifting, Keep L2s Simple

Buterin’s main point is this: instead of overcomplicating Layer 2s, developers should build them around Ethereum’s already strong L1 foundation. Let Ethereum handle the tough parts, like security and data, and reduce L2s to just sequencing and proving.

“If based, just a prover,” Buterin added showing how minimal an L2 can be if it’s built right.

This isn’t just about making things simpler. It’s about achieving both speed and decentralization, which is the balance the blockchain world has long struggled to get right.

L1 Protects Users Like Never Before

In the 2010s, many enterprise blockchain projects promised secure, efficient systems. But they often fell short – either too slow or too centralized. According to Buterin, Ethereum’s L2 ecosystem is now in a position to actually deliver on those early promises.

He points out that L1 Ethereum already steps in to protect users when something goes wrong on L2s. This kind of built-in safety net makes the whole system more reliable, something especially important as crypto adoption continues to grow.

The Crypto Community Responds

The crypto community weighs in with mixed reactions as Vitalik drops the update on X. Most users agree with Buterin’s motion towards L1, while others debate by comparing L1 and L2 functioning.

Supporting Buterin’s view, A user on X quotes that ‘Building on L1’s strengths enhances trust‘.

In a Nutshell

With the industry advancing rapidly, Buterin’s perspectives may redefine L2 design, which may enable broad acceptance.

This forward-thinking strategy from Buterin guarantees a safe, user-focused blockchain future, supporting Ethereum’s dominance in the Web3 domain.