The "Ethereum Layer 2 Rethink" is a strategic pivot recently articulated by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in early February 2026. This shift challenges the long-standing "rollup-centric roadmap," arguing that the original vision of L2s as mere "branded shards" for scaling no longer fits the current technical and economic reality. #EthereumLayer2Rethink?
Key Drivers of the Rethink L1 Scaling Progress: The Ethereum mainnet is scaling faster than anticipated. Recent upgrades like the Fusaka upgrade in early 2026 and gas limit increases to 60 million (with targets of 200 million) have slashed mainnet fees by up to 99%, making direct L1 usage viable for many projects.L2 Maturity Delays: Most L2s have been slow to reach "Stage 2" maturity (full decentralization). Many still rely on centralized sequencers or multisig "training wheels," which Buterin argues do not truly inherit Ethereum's security.Fragmented Ecosystem: The proliferation of generic L2s has created a "fragmented mess" and "liquidity silos" rather than a unified scaling solution. The Proposed "New Framework" Instead of viewing L2s as mandatory scaling extensions, the new vision treats them as a spectrum of specialized services: Specialized Utility: L2s must now offer unique features beyond "being cheaper." This includes privacy-focused VMs, application-specific optimizations, or ultra-low latency for gaming and high-frequency trading.Native Rollup Precompiles: Buterin has advocated for native L1 primitives that would allow Ethereum itself to verify ZK-EVM proofs. This would move verification from centralized committees to the protocol level.Selective Deployment: High-profile projects like ENS (Ethereum Name Service) have already canceled planned L2 rollups (e.g., "Namechain") in favor of staying on the now-cheaper L1, signaling a broader industry trend toward "L1-first" deployment for critical state. Real-World Impacts Token Value Pressure: The market is increasingly questioning "governance-only" L2 tokens upcoming native rollup precompiles?$ETH
