In early 2026, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and the broader development community initiated a major "rethink" of the network’s rollup-centric roadmap. This strategic pivot moves away from viewing Layer 2s (L2s) as mere "branded shards" of the mainnet and toward a more nuanced, specialized ecosystem.
Why the Rethink is Happening
Rapid Layer 1 (L1) Scaling: Ethereum’s base layer has scaled faster than expected through continuous technical upgrades and planned gas limit increases.
Stalled L2 Decentralization: Many L2s have been slow to reach "Stage 2" maturity (full decentralization without "training wheels"), often remaining under the control of centralized sequencers or multisig bridges.
Ecosystem Fragmentation: The proliferation of L2s has led to structural fragmentation of liquidity and users, making it harder for the ecosystem to feel like a single, unified network.
Core Pillars of the New Vision
L2s as Specialized Tools: Rather than just providing generic scaling, Buterin argues that L2s must justify their existence through unique value like privacy-focused VMs, ultra-low latency, or application-specific optimizations (e.g., social or AI use cases).
The "Full Spectrum" Model: Ethereum will support a range of solutions—from "Ethereum-native" rollups with high security to "looser" chains optimized for speed or specific regulatory needs.
Native Rollup Precompile: A proposed precompile would allow Ethereum to verify ZK-EVM proofs directly on the base layer, enabling trustless interoperability and synchronous composability between different layers.
Clarity Over Marketing: The rethink demands more honest labeling. Projects that do not inherit Ethereum's full security should be clearly distinguished so users understand their specific risk/guarantee trade-offs.
Impact on the Ecosystem
Mainnet Value: As L1 gains more direct capacity, it shifts the narrative from Ethereum being a passive settlement layer back to being an active, high-performance execution core.
Interoperability Focus: Research is shifting from "how to scale" to "how to connect" the fragmented L2 landscape without forcing them into identical molds.
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