Vitalik Buterin: Only Rollups with True Decentralization Worth Discussing in Layer 2 Talks

SUMMARY

Vitalik Buterin will change how he discusses Layer 2 rollups in public communications starting next year.
He will only focus on solutions that achieve “stage 1+” in decentralization.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has laid out a new approach for how he will discuss Layer 2 rollups in his public communications, such as blogs and talks, starting next year. His primary center will be on promoting decentralization in these Layer 2 solutions. Buterin plans to only mention rollups that have accomplished “stage 1+” in decentralization unless they are part of a short grace period given to exceedingly innovative new ventures. He made it clear that no personal investments or friendships will impact which technologies he highlights. As he stated, “It doesn’t matter if I invested, or if you’re my friend; stage 1 or bust.”

The criteria for meeting “stage 1+” decentralization are strict. Rollups must guarantee that a council can reach a 75% consensus to supersede the verification framework. Also, no fewer than 26% of the council members must be independent of the roll-up team itself. This structure is expecting to boost both the security and the decentralization of Layer 2 networks. Buterin sees this as a vital step forward and calls it a “very reasonable moderate milestone.” In any case, most rollup-based Layer 2 blockchains on Ethereum have yet to decentralize to this degree, and numerous still depend on centralized processes, making them less secure.

Currently, the optimistic rollup Arbitrum is the only Layer 2 solution on Ethereum that has accomplished stage 1 decentralization. However, Buterin added that a few teams working on ZK rollups have shown that they are on track to reach stage 1 status by the end of the year. This progression marks a significant moment for the future of Layer 2 innovations, as decentralized networks provide higher security and reliability.

Buterin moreover addressed the need to move beyond basic frameworks that are less secure, regularly referred to as “glorified multi sigs.” He advocates for Layer 2 rollups to adopt a more vigorous system grounded in cryptographic trust. By pushing for these headways, Buterin hopes to set a new standard for decentralization in the Layer 2 space, eventually guaranteeing that networks are secure, dependable, and truly decentralized. The move towards “stage 1+” rollups reflects a broader commitment to improving the overall security and performance of Ethereum’s Layer 2 networks.