In a push for heightened standards within the Ethereum ecosystem, co-founder Vitalik Buterin calls for layer-2 scaling solutions, specifically rollups, to achieve stage 1 decentralization by the end of the year. This announcement, outlined in Buterin’s recent blog post, follows the Ethereum network’s Dencun upgrade, which significantly lowered transaction fees for rollups on layer 2. Buterin emphasizes the transition Ethereum is making from rapid first-layer (L1) advancements to a new era focused on scaling and efficiency improvements.
A Shift in Focus: Enhancing Ethereum’s Layer-2 Standards
Buterin points out that Ethereum’s scaling journey has evolved from solving initial “zero-to-one” challenges to refining and expanding its capabilities. As part of this evolution, he advocates for stricter ecosystem standards, particularly for rollups — a key component in Ethereum’s layer-2 scaling strategy. Rollups must now achieve at least stage 1 decentralization, a status denoting advanced security and scaling, though not full decentralization, which is marked as stage 2.
The Path to Advanced Decentralization
In his classification, Buterin reveals that only a handful of layer-2 projects currently meet the criteria for stages 1 or 2 decentralization, with Arbitrum noted for its full Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility. The roadmap to further decentralization includes implementing data availability sampling, enhancing blob capacity, and optimizing layer-2 solutions through various technical advancements. These steps aim to propel Ethereum towards a future where rollups are not only more efficient but also uphold the network’s decentralized ethos.
Embracing Ethereum’s New Era
Buterin likens Ethereum’s recent upgrades to a plane undergoing major modifications mid-flight, highlighting the network’s ambitious and continuous evolution. As Ethereum progresses through “The Surge” phase of its roadmap, focusing on scalability and data sharding, the upcoming “The Scourge” phase will address censorship resistance, decentralization, and protocol risks. Buterin encourages developers to adopt a forward-thinking approach, designing applications that leverage layer-2 scaling, privacy enhancements, and new community engagement mechanisms. This vision underscores Ethereum’s transition from a purely financial platform to a comprehensive, decentralized technological ecosystem.
