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Buterin said the standard way to build Layer-2 networks is outdated.
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The main Ethereum layer is now able to handle more activity for a lower price due to network upgrades.
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Buterin said projects must use Ethereum technology and not its name to market.
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, shared a lengthy post on X. He argued that the standard method of building Layer-2 network (creating multiple EVM chains connected by simple bridges) was becoming outdated. He says that the space needs new ideas, and a closer connection to Ethereum itself. Not just more lookalikes.
Buterin said that simply copying Ethereum and linking it to a bridge was no longer a good idea. He said that it was easy to copy old DeFi projects but that it slowed down real progress.
Recent improvements have made Ethereum itself faster and cheaper. Due to these network upgrades the main Ethereum layer is now able to handle more activity for a lower price. There is no longer a need for Layer-2 networks, which exist only to offer cheaper transactions.
This has also reduced the main reason for people to use Layer-2 network in the first instance (low fees). In some areas, the Ethereum main blockchain is seeing a return of activity.
TokenTerminal reports that the number of monthly active users on Layer-2 network fell from 58.4 millions in mid-2025 down to 30 million by February 2026. In the same period, the number of active users on the main Ethereum Blockchain doubled from 7 to 15 millions.
L2s Need New Things
Buterin says that new Layer-2 networks must bring something truly innovative to the table. Instead of being cheaper copies, they should offer unique characteristics like strong user privacy or custom-built environments for certain apps, ultra-fast transaction speeds, and specialized uses for businesses that need verifiable record.
In the X-post, he also highlighted that projects must use Ethereum’s technology and not simply leverage its name for advertising.
He described two ways in which specialized app chains can function:
- Rollups are tightly woven in Ethereum, using it for final security and recording while doing heavy-duty work off-chain.
- Separate blockchains using Ethereum as a notary public, posting verifiable evidence of their data, to create transparency, even though they run independently.
Buterin has now essentially reaffirmed what he said two days ago. His comments that L2s should be more than just cheaper copies of Ethereum caused a lot of debate in the crypto community.
Related: Ethereum L2s Must Evolve beyond Cost Scaling, Says Vitalik
