Ethereum in the strategy debate: Vitalik Buterin is shaking up the Layer 2 course

• Vitalik Buterin stated on February 3, 2026 that the rollup-centric scaling strategy no longer makes sense
• Progress on many Layer 2 networks has been significantly slower than expected, according to Buterin
• Ethereum is increasingly scaling to Layer 1 with historically low fees and planned gas limit increases

The end of “branded sharding”

Ethereum has pursued a clear scaling strategy for years: The mainnet should remain lean, while layer 2 networks take over the majority of transactions. Rollups were seen as a kind of outsourced extension of Ethereum that was supposed to inherit its security guarantees. This model, often referred to as “branded sharding,” was publicly questioned by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in a detailed post on Platform X on February 3, 2026.

The original vision of positioning Layer 2 networks as a central scaling solution no longer makes sense, explained Buterin. As can be seen from his article, he cites two central reasons for this: Firstly, the progress of many Layer 2 networks towards complete decentralization has been significantly slower and more difficult than expected. Some operators even consciously decided not to go beyond early decentralization levels, partly for regulatory reasons. Second, Ethereum itself is increasingly scaling to Layer 1. Transaction fees on the mainnet are at historically low levels, and significant gas limit increases are planned for 2026. The original cost argument in favor of Layer 2 solutions loses weight.

Buterin was particularly clear in his criticism of networks that deliver high transaction numbers but whose connection to Ethereum runs via so-called multisig bridges. Anyone who builds an EVM with 10,000 transactions per second, but whose connection to Layer 1 is mediated via a multisig bridge, is not scaling Ethereum, he wrote. True Ethereum scaling means creating blockspace backed by the full credibility of the Ethereum network, including guarantees of transaction validity, censorship resistance and finality.

Users return to Layer 1

The numbers support Buterin’s argument. According to data from analytics platform Token Terminal, cited in a report by BeInCrypto, monthly active addresses on Layer 2 networks fell from around 58.4 million in mid-2025 to around 30 million in early February 2026. At the same time, active addresses on the Ethereum mainnet have more than doubled from around 7 million to around 15 million over the same period.

This opposite development suggests that users will increasingly return to the base layer as soon as low fees and full security guarantees are available at the same time. The token prices of many Layer 2 projects also reflected the growing uncertainty. Leading Layer 2 tokens recorded declines of between 15 and 30 percent in January 2026 alone.

Native rollups and reorganizing the ecosystem

Instead of writing off Layer 2 networks completely, Buterin outlines a new distribution of roles in his article. Rollups should no longer be defined primarily by scaling, but rather by specialized added value: data protection functions, application-specific designs, particularly fast transaction confirmations or non-financial use cases. At the same time, they should communicate transparently what security guarantees they actually offer.

As a technical solution, Buterin brings the idea of ​​a so-called “Native Rollup Precompile” into play. This would give Ethereum the ability to verify so-called zero-knowledge EVM evidence directly in its own protocol, i.e. cryptographic evidence that proves that transactions on a rollup were carried out correctly, without having to re-verify each individual transaction. This verification would be automatically updated with protocol upgrades and corrected via hard fork in the event of an error. This would eliminate the dependence of many of today’s rollups on central security bodies, so-called security councils. In addition, Buterin published a proposal on the Ethereum research platform ethresear.ch in January 2026 that combines so-called based rollups with preconfirmations in order to enable quick transaction confirmations while maintaining a close connection to the mainnet.

The reactions from the ecosystem were mixed but mostly constructive. As per a report by CoinDesk, leading Layer 2 players welcomed the clarification. Base head Jesse Pollak described the scaling of Ethereum as a benefit for the entire ecosystem, but at the same time emphasized that rollups had to prove their own added value. Polygon CEO Marc Boiron explained that Buterin’s statement was not a rejection of rollups, but rather an increase in expectations. Jing Wang, co-founder of the Optimism Foundation, went further, comparing Layer 2 networks to standalone websites that simply use Ethereum as an open settlement standard. Overall, the industry seems to agree that Buterin’s realignment represents less of a threat and more of a necessary maturation process that is forcing rollups to redefine their positioning.

D. Maier / editorial team finanzen.net