Ethereum’s founder, Vitalik Buterin, has stated that the original concept of second-layer solutions (L2) has become outdated. He proposed a new model for the ecosystem’s development, shifting the focus from mere scaling to the unique functions of projects.
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According to Buterin, the perception of L2 as “branded shards” is outdated for two reasons. First, the transition of rollups to full decentralization (Stage 2) has proven more complex and slower than anticipated. Second, the main network (L1) is scaling independently: fees are decreasing, and gas limits are set to increase significantly.
A Spectrum Instead of a Standard
Buterin acknowledged that not all projects can or want to meet Ethereum’s strict security criteria. Some are hindered by the technical limitations of zkEVM, while others face regulatory requirements that necessitate retaining control over the network.
Instead of a single standard, he suggested viewing L2 as a spectrum of possibilities. This would include networks fully secured by Ethereum and projects with varying degrees of connection to the mainnet. Users would choose the guarantees they require.
A Direction for Developers
The Ethereum founder recommended that L2 projects avoid duplicating L1 functions and instead seek unique value. Among promising directions, he highlighted:
- privacy;
- optimization for specific applications;
- design for non-financial sectors (social networks, identification, AI);
- ultra-high transaction speed.
For those using ETH and other ecosystem assets, Buterin advised reaching at least the first stage of decentralization (Stage 1) and ensuring maximum compatibility with Ethereum.
Native Precompile and Synchrony
The technical foundation of the new system should be the “native precompile of rollups”. This is a built-in function that verifies ZK-proofs at the L1 protocol level.
Implementing this tool would provide two key advantages:
- Security. The precompile updates alongside Ethereum. If vulnerabilities are discovered, developers will fix them through a mainnet hard fork.
- Synchronous composability. Different L2s will be able to interact with each other and with L1 in real-time, eliminating delays and the need for unreliable bridges.
Buterin emphasized that in an open ecosystem, the emergence of centralized or less secure projects is inevitable. The community’s task is to clearly explain to users the guarantees provided by each platform.
Earlier, on February 1, Buterin introduced a new model for motivating content creators, based on a combination of DAOs and prediction market mechanics.