Key Insights:
- Vitalik Buterin and L2BEAT align in the definition of an ETH L2.
- Sandeep Nailwal expressed frustration over a lack of reciprocal support from the ETH community.
- ETH price shows mild volatility despite bullish $500,000 projection by 2030.
The Ethereum (ETH) community is witnessed another heated debate about the true definition of Layer-2 solutions built on the network.
The ongoing debate was sparked by comments from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and the contrasting positions of Polygon and projects like Base.
What Qualifies Projects as Ethereum Layer-2 Solutions?
At the heart of this debate is the definition of Layer-2 (L2) solutions and the security guarantees it provide to users.
Vitalik Buterin has consistently advocated for Layer-2 solutions that extend to the Ethereum network. Previously, he praised Base, an L2 solution developed by Coinbase, for doing “things the right way.”
According to Vitalik, Base is an L2 on top of Ethereum, leveraging centralized features to improve user experience (UX).
Vitalik added that the solution also ties into the Ethereum decentralized L1 for security.
He went on to explain that Base does not custody funds, meaning it cannot steal or block withdrawals.
According to Vitalik, this aligns with L2BEAT’s Stage 1 definition for rollups, which requires a mechanism for users to exit to L1 even if the L2 fails.
Meanwhile, Polygon, another top Layer-2 blockchain, earlier announced plans to convert its Proof-of-Stake (PoS) into a full L2.
This implies it would integrate more tightly with Ethereum L1 for security. However, this conversion never happened, and Polygon seems to have pivoted away from that goal.
Despite not fully aligning with the L2 model, Polygon PoS still seeks recognition as an L2.
Polygon developers appear frustrated that it does not receive the same praise as Base, even appealing to Vitalik for validation.
The tension highlights a broader industry debate about what qualifies as an L2 versus a sidechain.
While Vitalik emphasizes that true Layer-2s inherit the Ethereum security, Sidechains, like Polygon PoS, rely on their own consensus.
Polygon Founder Questions Loyalty to Ethereum
In another Ethereum news update, Polygon founder Sandeep Nailwal added a strategic layer to the ongoing debate.
His perspective sheds light on the frustration, loyalty, and strategic dilemmas faced by a key player in the blockchain scaling space.
Sandeep acknowledged his initial inspiration from Ethereum and admiration for Vitalik Buterin. However, Sandeep said he feels a lack of reciprocal support from the Ethereum Foundation (EF) and ETH community.
He described the Ethereum community as a “shit show,” citing frequent public discontent from major contributors.
Sandeep also defended the Polygon PoS as effectively “hinged on Ethereum,” while noting that newer chains like Katana and XLayer are true L2s.
His comments suggest a mixed ecosystem where Polygon PoS acts as a bridge. Still, its sidechain nature does not fully align with the L2 definition championed by Vitalik and L2BEAT.
Solana co-founders Tilt to a Different Direction
Adding to the ongoing discourse, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko shared a different perspective.
Anatoly highlighted that Ethereum is officially a Solana Layer 2 blockchain. Anatoly backed his argument on the fact that wrapped SOL on ETH requires censorship-resistant guarantees to exit back to Solana.
He argued that Ethereum currently relies on Solana for true security. His argument flipped the traditional narrative, where SOL is treated as “second-class” on ETH.
Amid the debate, the ETH price is still witnessing mild volatility. As of this writing, ETH decreased by 1.2% over the past 24 hours to $4,104.
However, the ETH value has surged 5.2% and 2.9% over the past week and month, respectively.
Moreover, market participants and analysts have continued to raise an optimistic price outlook for the leading altcoin. Additionally, a 10-year projection revealed an ETH price prediction of $500,000 by the year 2030.