Vitalik Buterin Calls for a New Scaling Strategy as Ethereum’s Mainnet Gains Momentum
Co‑founder of Ethereum says the original layer‑2‑first roadmap “no longer makes sense” and points to native roll‑ups, higher gas limits and niche‑focused L2s as the next steps.
The shift in perspective
On Tuesday, Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin used his X account to announce a major re‑evaluation of how the network should be scaled. After years of championing layer‑2 solutions (L2s) as the primary path to higher throughput, he now argues that the combination of a more capable mainnet and the limited decentralisation of many L2s makes that vision obsolete.
“Both of these facts, for their own separate reasons, mean that the original vision of L2s and their role in Ethereum no longer makes sense, and we need a new path,” Buterin wrote.
The statement follows recent upgrades that have expanded Ethereum’s block‑size limits and introduced the concept of native roll‑ups—a technology that integrates roll‑up processing directly into the consensus layer rather than relying on external contracts.
Why L2s are losing favour
L2s were initially conceived as extensions that would handle the bulk of transaction traffic, then settle finality and security on Ethereum’s base layer. In practice, many of the most‑prominent L2s—such as Arbitrum, Optimism, Base and Starknet—have struggled to achieve the level of decentralisation that would make them truly “secured by Ethereum.”
Buterin illustrated the problem with a vivid example: an L2 that reaches 10 000 TPS but relies on a multisig bridge to communicate with L1 does not constitute genuine scaling of Ethereum, because its security and censorship‑resistance remain tied to a centralized component.
The emerging alternative: native roll‑ups
Buterin highlighted precompiled native roll‑ups as a promising avenue. Unlike classic roll‑ups that batch transactions off‑chain before posting data to Ethereum, native roll‑ups are baked into the protocol, allowing validators to verify transaction execution directly. The approach is expected to gain traction once zero‑knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) proofs are fully integrated into the base layer, a milestone anticipated later this year.
In parallel, the Ethereum community has been preparing a modest but impactful increase in the gas limit—from roughly 60 million to 80 million gas per block—following the second “blob‑only” hard fork that went live in January. This change raises the per‑block capacity for transactions and smart‑contract operations, helping to lower fees and improve throughput without any architectural overhaul.
Community reactions
Buterin’s remarks have found quick resonance among influential Ethereum voices. Ryan Sean Adams, co‑host of the Bankless podcast, lauded the shift as “the pivot,” emphasizing a stronger focus on Ethereum’s L1: “Strong ETH, Strong L1.”
Conversely, the view that L2s should still dominate the scaling narrative has long been challenged within the ecosystem. Researchers such as Max Resnick—who departed ConsenSys for the Solana space after his push for mainnet‑centric scaling failed to gain traction—have publicly urged developers to look beyond L2‑only solutions.
These discussions signal a growing consensus that a diversified scaling strategy—combining a beefier base layer with specialised, niche‑oriented L2s—may be the most robust path forward.
Potential niche for L2s
Rather than competing directly with the mainnet for raw transaction capacity, Buterin suggested that L2s could refocus on specialised use‑cases where they can add unique value. Areas he identified include:
- Privacy‑preserving transactions – leveraging ZK‑proofs for confidential transfers.
- Decentralised identity – enabling portable, verifiable credentials.
- Financial primitives – such as high‑frequency trading or derivatives that demand ultra‑low latency.
- Social and gaming dApps – where user‑experience and rapid state updates are critical.
- AI‑driven applications – that require large‑scale data processing off‑chain but still need on‑chain finality.
By carving out these verticals, L2s could avoid direct competition with a now‑more‑capable Ethereum mainnet while still delivering differentiated services.
Key takeaways
| What | Implication |
|---|---|
| Mainnet upgrades (gas limit + native roll‑ups) | Immediate boost to transaction throughput; long‑term roadmap toward ~10 000 TPS on‑chain. |
| Layer‑2 decentralisation challenges | Many popular L2s do not meet the security guarantees of “Ethereum‑secured” scaling, reducing their value as a universal scaling solution. |
| Shift in L2 focus | Expected pivot toward specialised applications (privacy, identity, finance, AI, social) rather than pure transaction scaling. |
| Community alignment | Prominent voices (e.g., Ryan Sean Adams) endorse the re‑orientation, indicating broader industry acceptance. |
| Future development priorities | Continued work on zkEVM integration, native roll‑up mechanisms, and further incremental gas‑limit adjustments. |
Outlook
If Ethereum’s mainnet can sustain higher throughput while keeping fees manageable, the pressure on L2s to act as the sole scaling lever will diminish. In that scenario, L2s that excel in niche functionalities could become indispensable components of the broader ecosystem, complementary rather than competing with the base layer.
The coming months will be critical for testing the efficacy of native roll‑ups and the impact of the increased gas limit. Success in these areas could validate Buterin’s call for a new scaling path and reshape the strategic roadmap for developers, investors, and users alike.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/ethereum-scaling-pivot-l2s-mainnet-vitalik-buterin?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
