Ethereum L2 Strategy Shift: Why Vitalik Says Original Model No Longer Applicable

Recent discussions within the Ethereum community have centered on a fundamental question: what role should Layer 2 solutions play in the ecosystem’s future? Vitalik Buterin has addressed this challenge head-on, arguing that the original architectural vision for L2s is no longer applicable given how rapidly L1 infrastructure itself is evolving.

Why the Original L2 Vision No Longer Fits Current Ethereum

The core issue stems from diverging timelines. While Layer 2 adoption has progressed slower than initially anticipated—particularly with phase 2 deployments lagging behind roadmap expectations—Ethereum’s L1 has simultaneously undergone substantial upgrades. Developers anticipate that by 2026, gas limits will increase significantly on the mainnet, fundamentally altering the scaling equation. This expansion means the foundational rationale for L2 as “branded sharding” has become outdated. L1 no longer requires L2 to fulfill this specific role, and existing L2 solutions lack either the capability or incentive to deliver the true characteristics of canonical sharding.

Redefining L2 Value: Beyond Scaling Limitations

Rather than abandoning L2 development, Vitalik advocates for a strategic reorientation. He proposes that Layer 2 protocols should pursue differentiated value propositions beyond raw transaction throughput. These include specialized privacy features, application-specific efficiency gains, extreme scaling for niche use cases, novel non-financial application design, ultra-low latency services, and integrated oracle functionality. For any L2 handling ETH or other Ethereum-native assets, he emphasizes achieving at least phase 1 compatibility while maintaining maximum interoperability with the base layer.

Technical Innovation: Native Rollup Precompiles as a Solution

Buterin has grown increasingly confident in the potential of native Rollup precompiles, particularly following breakthroughs in ZK-EVM proof systems that enable L1 scaling. These precompiles would make EVM verification feasible without reliance on security councils. His proposal centers on designing these precompiles to verify EVM components even when L2 stacks contain “EVM plus additional layers.” This approach promises to simplify trustless, secure interoperability with Ethereum while enabling true synchronous composability—a capability that would represent a meaningful upgrade to current L2 architecture.