{"id":18622,"date":"2024-11-15T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-15T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/vitalik-buterin-versus-training-wheels-what-scaling-should-look-like-in-2025\/"},"modified":"2024-11-15T13:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T11:00:00","slug":"vitalik-buterin-versus-training-wheels-what-scaling-should-look-like-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/vitalik-buterin-versus-training-wheels-what-scaling-should-look-like-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Vitalik Buterin versus \u2018training wheels\u2019: what scaling should look like in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In November 2022 Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin <a href=\"https:\/\/ethereum-magicians.org\/t\/proposed-milestones-for-rollups-taking-off-training-wheels\/11571\/10\">published a post<\/a> on the evolution of scaling solutions. He urged rollup teams to standardise their decentralisation milestones and introduced the notion of \u201ctraining wheels.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In September 2024 Buterin returned with a call for a unified vision of the Ethereum ecosystem and the removal of centralising factors. He demanded that L2 developers reach \u201cStage 1+\u201d by 2025, or he would keep publicly silent about such rollups.<\/p>\n<p>ForkLog\u2019s newsroom set out to unpack the cofounder\u2019s ultimatums and explain the essence of the projects\u2019 \u201cstages\u201d of autonomy. This piece looks at how L2BEAT analysts helped adapt the complex theory and which projects got to full decentralisation first.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The community adapts the theory<\/h2>\n<p>Over roughly seven years, layer-2 solutions have benefited the blockchain industry. They have lowered the barrier to entry for DeFi investors, improved user experience and helped users save on transaction fees. Developers and Web3 enthusiasts gained a proving ground and generous early airdrops.<\/p>\n<p>More than a hundred scaling solutions use different architectures with trade-offs between trust minimisation and centralised control. When the balance tilts toward the latter, it means transaction censorship and attracts undue attention from attackers. Centralisation throws the blockchain\u2019s defence out of kilter, enabling attacks of power or scale (Sybil attacks, <span data-descr=\"Distributed Denial of Service, a distributed 'denial of service' attack\" class=\"old_tooltip\">DDoS<\/span> attacks on server nodes).<\/p>\n<p>After \u201ctraining wheels\u201d were first mentioned, the ecosystem entered a new phase of maturity. Buterin explained that a project\u2019s initial centralised phase is inevitable. The key is to keep the \u201ctraining wheels\u201d temporary\u2014needed only to ship upgrades and fix bugs in a controlled environment. In the end, \u201cthe wheels should come off\u201d so that L2s fully inherit the base layer\u2019s (L1) security properties of Ethereum.<\/p>\n<p>Buterin highlighted the value of the L2BEAT analytics platform. He proposed adding the \u201cstages\u201d to its Risk Analysis category, easing the burden of technical jargon for non-specialists.<\/p>\n<p>The response was swift\u2014within ten days L2BEAT cofounder Krzysztof Kaczor produced a trial version. He set out the team\u2019s view and delivered a test Stages interface.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-1301.webp\" alt=\"1-1301\" class=\"wp-image-245321\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Krzysztof Kaczor of L2BEAT explains the team\u2019s vision to Buterin and shows a test version of Stages on the platform. Data: <a href=\"https:\/\/ethereum-magicians.org\/t\/proposed-milestones-for-rollups-taking-off-training-wheels\/11571\/9\">ethereum-magicians.org<\/a>. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>By the summer of 2023 the <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/l2beat\/introducing-stages-a-framework-to-evaluate-rollups-maturity-d290bb22befe\">final Stages Framework<\/a> was ready, with a detailed description of each rollup-evolution step. In December an <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/l2beat\/stages-update-security-council-requirements-4c79cea8ef52\">update<\/a> addressed the powers and quorum of the <span data-descr=\"The Security Council \u2014 a body empowered to make decisions in the interest of blockchain security\" class=\"old_tooltip\">Security Council<\/span>. It is elected by vote and comprises core developers and external participants. The Council is represented by a corresponding number of signing keys of a single governance multisig wallet.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2-943.webp\" alt=\"2-943\" class=\"wp-image-245322\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rollup Security Council requirements updated in December 2023. Data: <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/l2beat\/stages-update-security-council-requirements-4c79cea8ef52\">L2BEAT<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Rollups today sit at an intermediate stage of decentralisation, relying on a mix of on-chain and off-chain data and creating security trade-offs.<\/p>\n<p>In Buterin\u2019s vision, \u201cproper\u201d L2s should lean as much as possible on cryptography, sidestepping human unpredictability and moving toward the following changes:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a shift from centralised nodes (sequencers) that set transaction order to a network of independent validators;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>use of trustless, permissionless cross-chain bridges to move assets or data between networks. Full decentralisation implies no party controls the protocols;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>distributed control to reduce the likelihood of censorship. With a single operator or bridge, it is easier to pressure it to block a transaction;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>trustless, permissionless systems for generating proofs such as ZKPs, with fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) in the future. Today proofs are generated by a limited set of centralised parties, but full decentralisation would let anyone participate;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>fully decentralised governance via a DAO, gradual curtailment of the Security Council\u2019s powers, moving away from multisig technology and using decentralised infrastructure in the spirit of <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/tokens-for-noise-and-a-web3-alternative-to-google-maps-the-most-interesting-depin-projects\">DePIN<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The stages of rollup maturity<\/h2>\n<p>With Buterin\u2019s input and consultations with leading industry players, L2BEAT analysts laid out requirements for rollups\u2019 phased transformation\u2014from zero to second stage. Their synergy is reflected in three \u201ctraining wheels\u201d stages:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Stage 0, or \u201cwith training wheels.\u201d<\/strong> A project must call itself a rollup, meaning all transactions must be posted on-chain. While effectively under manual operator control, it must be possible to run a full node with open-source software. This helps reconstruct the data posted to L1 and <span data-descr=\"A form of verifying the correctness of transactions\" class=\"old_tooltip\">compare their state root hashes<\/span>. One vector remains for locking funds and censoring user transactions\u2014the team can post false proofs to Ethereum;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Stage 1, or \u201cpartially with training wheels.\u201d<\/strong> Governance shifts to smart contracts. Creating a Security Council to guard against potential errors is allowed. This stage features a fully functional proof system, decentralised submission of <span data-descr=\"Fraud Proof \u2014 a cryptographic proof to verify the validity of a transaction\" class=\"old_tooltip\">fraud proofs<\/span> and the ability for users to exit without coordinating with the operator. Major changes require Council action with six of eight votes or a 75% consensus. At least 26% of members must be outside the core team;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Stage 2, or \u201cwithout training wheels.\u201d<\/strong> Decentralisation is achieved with full smart-contract control. Users are given more than 30 days to exit in the event of undesirable upgrades, with protection against governance attacks. The Security Council\u2019s role is strictly limited to correctness failures, such as assuming control if no transactions are confirmed for more than seven days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A scaling phenomenon \u2014 Fuel Network<\/h2>\n<p>Buterin\u2019s September 2024 \u201cultimatum\u201d likely gave L2 developers pause. Given that <span data-descr=\"Most of all L2s listed on L2BEAT \u2014 66 projects at the time of writing\" class=\"old_tooltip\">most solutions<\/span> are Validiums or <span data-descr=\"'Optimistic' form of off-chain computation\" class=\"old_tooltip\">Optimiums<\/span>, they will not reach Stage 0.<\/p>\n<p>The Ethereum cofounder allowed a \u201cshort grace period\u201d for new and genuinely interesting projects, but kept a hard line for 2025.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cIt does not matter whether I invested or you are my friend; Stage 1 or collapse,\u201d<\/em> he emphasised<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Several ZK-rollup teams told Buterin they were on track to reach Stage 1 by year-end. He said he \u201clooks forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/l2beat.com\/scaling\/summary#active\">L2BEAT<\/a>, at the time of writing the \u201cRollups\u201d category lists 51 projects, of which only two have reached Stage 2\u2014Fuel v1 and DeGate v1. And only four have Stage 1 status: Arbitrum One, OP Mainnet, ZKsync Lite and dYdX v3.<\/p>\n<p>Consider briefly a phenomenon in scaling\u2014Fuel Network.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fuel v1<\/strong> launched in 2020 on Optimistic Rollups with a focus on payments. It became one of the first Ethereum rollups and the first Stage 2 project.<\/p>\n<p>The developers later chose a modular approach, positioning the system as an execution layer for various blockchain configurations.<\/p>\n<p>To enable parallel transaction processing Fuel Network uses FuelVM\u2014an alternative to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The <span data-descr=\"unspent transaction output model\" class=\"old_tooltip\">UTXO<\/span> model helps detect and isolate transaction dependencies before execution. The rollup uses implementations of the Rust and Solidity programming languages, targeted at a specific task\u2014Sway.<\/p>\n<p>In 2022 Fuel Labs raised $80 million from Blockchain Capital and Stratos Technologies.<\/p>\n<p>As of October 14, 2024 Fuel v1\u2019s metrics look like a deserted forest with no residents but perfectly \u201cgreen\u201d security indicators. <span data-descr=\"Total Value Locked \u2014 the total value of locked assets\" class=\"old_tooltip\">TVL<\/span> sits at around ~$800. The network nevertheless attracts developers\u2019 attention for testing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/3-528.webp\" alt=\"3-528\" class=\"wp-image-245325\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fuel v1 metrics according to L2BEAT. Data: <a href=\"https:\/\/l2beat.com\/scaling\/projects\/fuelv1\">L2BEAT<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Analyst Krzysztof Kaczor, who helped adapt the Stages, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/krzKaczor\/status\/1524753284434587649\">ran a test<\/a> of safety under full decentralisation, in a network that was practically empty <span data-descr=\"May 2022\" class=\"old_tooltip\">at the time<\/span>. He wanted to see whether a fraud proof would work with a TVL of ~$10, without any visible network provers. After a few minutes Kaczor received a penalty from an Ethereum layer-one security validator of 0.5 ETH. The experiment succeeded, demonstrating the autonomy of the decentralised conditions Buterin calls for.<\/p>\n<p>On February 21, 2024 Fuel\u2014positioning itself as \u201cthe world\u2019s fastest modular execution layer\u201d\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/fuel-introduces-rollup-os-ahead-of-mainnet-launch\">introduced<\/a> Rollup OS. According to the developers, the \u201coperating system\u201d is an evolution of the Fuel v1 platform. The technology aims to eliminate the \u201ccritical constraints\u201d inherent in current architectures.<\/p>\n<p>On October 16, 2024 the <a href=\"https:\/\/fuel.mirror.xyz\/U2xqey0oZFCrIBf7bO3yYyFplJKiJ0sfzAyYmhrPjag\">Fuel Ignition (Fuel v2)<\/a> mainnet launched. At the outset the project is at Stage 0, but the team promises to raise security quickly, as with the first version, and \u201ctake off the training wheels.\u201d To that end they use a permissionless hybrid fraud-proof system\u2014<span data-descr=\"Combines the 'optimistic' form and zero-knowledge proof\" class=\"old_tooltip\">hybrid zero-knowledge proving<\/span>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/4-336.webp\" alt=\"4-336\" class=\"wp-image-245326\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fuel Ignition mainnet characteristics. Data: <a href=\"https:\/\/fuel.mirror.xyz\/U2xqey0oZFCrIBf7bO3yYyFplJKiJ0sfzAyYmhrPjag\">Fuel Labs<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/defillama.com\/chain\/Fuel%20Ignition\">DeFi Llama<\/a>, a month after launch the platform\u2019s TVL exceeds $38 million.<\/p>\n<p>On November 8 the DeFi protocol Spark <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptorank.io\/news\/feed\/cd150-ethereum-l2-project-spark-launches-on-chain-order-book-on-fuel-network-to-enhance-trading\">deployed an order book<\/a> on Fuel Ignition for fast and secure trade execution.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An optimistic forecast<\/h2>\n<p>In June 2024 the OP Mainnet team integrated Cannon fault proofs into its smart contracts, reaching Stage 1. <a href=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/optimism-reaches-stage-1-decentralization-implementing-fault-proofs\">According to the team<\/a>, in the long term Optimism will reach a \u201cmulti-proof nirvana,\u201d in which several systems are used to ensure the sequencer confirms valid transactions. At least four other OP Stack networks will soon join the system, including Base, Metal, Mode and Zora.<\/p>\n<p>Optimism cofounder Karl Floersch told <a href=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/decentralization-layer-2-rollup-ethereum\">Cointelegraph<\/a> that the move to the second stage would be \u201cfast and decisive.\u201d In his view, reaching it is a complex process because it requires multiple proof systems and because these are \u201cthe most security-critical code with an incredible level of assurance.\u201d Even so, he expects his network to get there soon.<\/p>\n<p>Floersch also says that once one network reaches Stage 2, others will quickly follow\u2014thanks to open-source development:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cOnce we reach Stage 2, most L2s will also get there. This is the beauty of building open-source ecosystems: the value created through contribution can be shared among all the participants and projects using the standards.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In November 2022 Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin published a post on the evolution of scaling solutions. He urged rollup teams to standardise their decentralisation milestones and introduced the notion of \u201ctraining wheels.\u201d In September 2024 Buterin returned with a call for a unified vision of the Ethereum ecosystem and the removal of centralising factors. He [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18621,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"select":"","news_style_id":"","cryptorium_level":"","_short_excerpt_text":"","creation_source":"","_metatest_mainpost_news_update":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1144],"tags":[1179,277,200,1338],"class_list":["post-18622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-longreads","tag-layer-2-solutions","tag-scaling","tag-vitalik-buterin","tag-zk-rollups"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"views":"66","promo_type":"","layout_type":"","short_excerpt":"","is_update":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18622\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}