Ethereum Co-Founder Urges Layer-2 Networks to Enhance Decentralization
In the realm of crypto currencies, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has announced a significant shift in his approach to discussing layer 2 networks. Buterin stated that moving forward, he will only highlight projects that meet a specific decentralization standard in his public communications, excluding those that fall short. This standard, referred to as “Stage 1,” was initially outlined in a blog post by Buterin several years ago.
Buterin emphasized his commitment to this new approach, stating, “Starting next year, I plan to only publicly mention (in blogs, talks, etc) L2s that are stage 1+. It doesn’t matter if I invested, or if you’re my friend; stage 1 or bust.” This decision reflects Buterin’s dedication to promoting decentralization within the crypto space.
In 2022, Buterin introduced a framework of stages for rollups, categorizing them based on their progress towards decentralization. The criteria aim to illustrate that rollups often rely on interim solutions before achieving full decentralization. Buterin explained, “While a project’s tech is still immature, the project launches early anyway to allow the ecosystem to start forming, but instead of relying fully on its fraud proofs or ZK proofs, there is some kind of multisig that has the ability to force a particular outcome in case there are bugs in the code.”
Multisig, in blockchain terms, refers to a key controlled by a group of individuals who can enact changes in emergency situations, bypassing the standard network validation process. Buterin further categorized projects into three stages: Stage 0 involves heavy reliance on training wheels, Stage 1 features limited training wheels with fraud proofs, and Stage 2 represents full decentralization.
L2Beat, a layer-2 dashboard, monitors the progress of various layer-2 protocols across these stages. Currently, none of the leading rollups has achieved Stage 2 decentralization. Notably, only Arbitrum One, OP Mainnet, and zkSync lite have reached Stage 1, showcasing their progress towards decentralization.
Buterin highlighted the evolving landscape of rollups, stating, “The era of rollups being glorified multisigs is coming to an end. The era of cryptographic trust is upon us.” This statement underscores the ongoing shift towards enhanced trust and decentralization within the crypto sphere.
