Ethereum Founder to Only Discuss Stage 1+ Layer 2 Projects Starting Next Year

Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin recently announced a shift in his approach to discussing Layer 2 (L2) projects. 

Starting next year, he plans to publicly mention only those projects that have achieved at least stage 1 decentralization. This decision is intended to maintain the ecosystem’s standards and ensure that the projects highlighted have reached a certain maturity.

Buterin emphasized that, despite his personal investments or connections, his future discussions will focus on L2s that have met specific benchmarks, allowing a short grace period for new projects that show genuine promise.

I take this seriously. Starting next year, I plan to only publicly mention (in blogs, talks, etc) L2s that are stage 1+, with *maybe a short grace period* for new genuinely interesting projects.

It doesn’t matter if I invested, or if you’re my friend; stage 1 or bust.

Multiple… pic.twitter.com/4cGxgsfmUc

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) September 12, 2024

In a statement shared on X, Buterin clarified his criteria for recognizing L2s, noting that several zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup teams have indicated they expect to reach stage 1 by the end of the year.

He expressed enthusiasm about the progress of these projects, signaling a move towards cryptographic security and trust in the Ethereum ecosystem. His updated stance aligns with his vision of ensuring that rollups are more than just multisigs, but rather, cryptographically secure systems that uphold user trust.

Buterin’s Definition of Stage 1 Rollups

Buterin outlined the specific requirements for a project to be considered a stage 1 rollup. These include the need for a 75% threshold on the council to override the proof system, with at least 26% of the council members coming from outside the rollup team.

He stressed that the shift to stage 1 is a moderate but necessary milestone to ensure the security of the proof systems without rushing to remove the “training wheels” prematurely. 

Furthermore, Buterin updated the community on the multisigs projects in which he is involved, noting that he has not witnessed any significant issues in recent years. 

End of Rollups as Multisigs

Vitalik Buterin also declared the end of the era where rollups functioned primarily as multisigs, indicating that it is now time for cryptographic trust to take center stage.

Meanwhile, his comments follow recent discussions about his involvement with L2 tokens and the sale of his ETH holdings. While some have raised concerns about these sales, Buterin clarified that the latest sale was executed automatically through a pre-set cowswap twap order, established on August 29.

These developments also come amid ongoing discussions about Ethereum’s market performance, with some analysts predicting another consolidation phase. However, despite the market uncertainty, Buterin’s sustained optimism regarding Ethereum’s future syncs with the growing bullish sentiment among its community.