Vitalik Buterin openly questioned the long-standing rollup-centric roadmap, arguing that Layer-2 networks have not decentralized at the expected pace while Ethereum’s base layer continues to scale directly. Expectations of lower fees and significantly higher gas limits in 2026 suggest that Ethereum may be able to handle more activity on its own.
According to Buterin, systems connected to Ethereum via multisignature bridges do not truly scale the network, as they fail to fully inherit its security. This critique directly targets the core assumptions behind the Layer-2 narrative that has dominated recent years. While networks such as Optimism, Arbitrum and Starknet continue to grow, very few have reached the Stage 2 decentralization level.
Buterin emphasized that the future of Layer-2s depends on offering distinct value propositions beyond scaling, including privacy-focused solutions, application-specific designs and alternative virtual machines.
