Ethereum L2 Builders Clash Over the Future Role of Rollups After Vitalik Buterin’s Scaling Re‑Assessment
July 2026 – Cointelegraph
Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin sparked a fresh debate in the ecosystem on Wednesday when he suggested that the original premise of layer‑2 (L2) solutions—acting as the primary scalability engine for the network—“no longer makes sense.” In a lengthy post, Buterin argued that many rollups still depend on multisig‑based bridges, which undermines the security guarantees that Ethereum’s base layer provides. At the same time, the main chain is becoming more capable of handling higher transaction volumes thanks to progressive gas‑limit increases and upcoming native rollup support.
The remarks have prompted a series of reactions from leading L2 teams, each interpreting the shift in their own way. While there is a broad consensus that rollups must evolve beyond “cheaper copies of Ethereum,” the builders diverge on whether scaling should remain the central mission of their platforms.
Vitalik’s Rethink
Buterin’s commentary highlighted two trends that, in his view, are converging:
- Security Gap – A sizable number of existing rollups still rely on external multisig bridges for moving assets between layers, a design that does not fully inherit Ethereum’s trust‑minimized security model.
- Base‑Layer Progress – Ethereum’s recent hard‑forks have raised the block gas limit to roughly 60 million, and future upgrades will embed native rollup verification logic as a pre‑compile, reducing the need for separate scaling layers.
He concluded that the ecosystem should move toward “specialization,” allowing L2s to focus on niches rather than simply delivering “Ethereum‑but‑cheaper.”
Builders’ Responses
Optimism – Embrace Modularity, Accept the Challenge
Optimism co‑founder Karl Floersch welcomed the notion of a modular L2 stack that can serve the full spectrum of decentralization requirements. In a post on X, he praised the ambition but underscored practical obstacles that still need resolution:
- Withdrawal latency – Users still face multi‑day windows to retrieve funds from Optimism back to Ethereum.
- Stage‑2 proof readiness – The next generation of validity proofs, which would enable more trust‑less bridging, is not yet production‑grade.
- Tooling gaps – Cross‑chain development kits remain immature, hindering broader app interoperability.
Floersch also expressed support for Ethereum’s plan to expose rollup verification as a native pre‑compile, a move he believes will make trust‑less verification more accessible for developers.
Arbitrum – Scaling Remains Core
Arbitrum’s co‑founder Steven Goldfeder delivered a more pointed response, insisting that scaling continues to be a fundamental value proposition for L2s. In a detailed thread, he explained that Arbitrum was conceived not as a “service to Ethereum” but as a platform that leverages Ethereum’s high‑security, low‑cost settlement layer to enable massive rollups.
Goldfeder cited recent traffic spikes where both Arbitrum and Base processed well over 1,000 tx/s, outpacing Ethereum’s on‑chain throughput at the time. He warned that if the community begins to view Ethereum as antagonistic toward rollups, institutional actors might look to launch independent L1 chains rather than building on Ethereum.
Base – Differentiation Over Cheap Replication
Jesse Pollak, head of Base, echoed Buterin’s sentiment that L2s can no longer survive by merely being “Ethereum‑but‑cheaper.” Base’s roadmap, according to Pollak, is now focused on three pillars:
- Onboarding – Streamlined UX for users and developers.
- Stage‑2 decentralization – Transitioning to a trust‑less bridge architecture.
- Specialized features – Incorporating account abstraction, privacy enhancements, and novel application layers that set Base apart from plain rollups.
Pollak framed Ethereum’s own scaling upgrades as a “win for the entire ecosystem,” positioning Base as a complementary environment rather than a direct competitor to the main chain.
Starknet – Implicit Alignment
Eli Ben‑Sasson, CEO of StarkWare, offered a terse but telling reaction on X: “Say Starknet without saying Starknet.” The comment hints that ZK‑native rollups such as Starknet already embody the specialization model Vitalik outlined, positioning themselves as distinct execution environments rather than simple scaling extensions.
Analysis: What This Means for the Ethereum Roadmap
-
Security First, Not Just Throughput – The criticism of multisig bridges signals a push toward proof‑based, trust‑less bridges that can inherit Ethereum’s security guarantees without compromising decentralization. Builders that can deliver production‑ready Stage‑2 proofs are likely to capture the next wave of institutional interest.
-
Base Layer Gains More Responsibility – With gas‑limit hikes and native rollup pre‑compiles on the horizon, Ethereum’s mainnet may absorb a larger slice of transaction volume. L2s will need to justify their existence through value‑added services—privacy, novel account models, or domain‑specific compute—rather than raw cost savings.
-
Divergent Business Models – Optimism and Base appear to be aligning with the specialization narrative, doubling down on tooling and differentiated features. Arbitrum, meanwhile, remains bullish on high‑throughput rollups as a cornerstone of its proposition, suggesting a bifurcation where some L2s double down on scaling while others pivot toward niche capabilities.
- Potential Market Realignment – If Ethereum’s scaling upgrades reduce the cost advantage of L2s, projects that cannot differentiate may see reduced demand. Conversely, those that integrate advanced cryptography (e.g., ZK‑rollups) or cater to specific developer ecosystems could flourish.
Key Takeaways
| Takeaway | Implication |
|---|---|
| Security gaps in existing rollups | Accelerated development of trust‑less bridging mechanisms (Stage‑2 proofs) is becoming a priority. |
| Ethereum’s base layer is scaling | L2s need to evolve beyond cost‑only benefits; specialization is the emerging theme. |
| Consensus on evolution, disagreement on focus | Builders split between maintaining scaling as core (Arbitrum) and shifting to niche services (Optimism, Base). |
| ZK‑rollups may lead the specialization charge | Starknet’s implicit endorsement suggests ZK‑native rollups could set the standard for “specialized” L2s. |
| Institutional perception matters | If rollups are viewed as unwelcome, capital may flow to alternative L1s, pressuring the Ethereum ecosystem to adapt quickly. |
Outlook
The conversation sparked by Buterin’s post marks a pivotal moment for Ethereum’s scaling strategy. As the base chain continues to acquire more processing capability, the onus falls on L2 developers to deliver differentiated, security‑centric solutions that complement rather than duplicate Ethereum’s core. The next few months—particularly as Stage‑2 proofs and native rollup pre‑compiles become mainstream—will likely determine which L2 projects emerge as the “specialized” engines of the future and which may need to recalibrate their value propositions.
This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s editorial policy. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/ethereum-l2-builders-respond-vitalik-rollup-shift?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
