Original author: Haotian (X: @tme l0 211 )
As the entire Ethereum layer 2 ecosystem is in trouble, @VitalikButerin s article on the future of Ethereum Surge explicitly or implicitly discusses several potential development changes. The mission of shrinking layer 2 standards and boundaries and enriching and integrating the layer 2 ecosystem seems to be imminent. Next, let me talk about my understanding:
1) Rollup Centric Roadmap replaces sharding.
The layer 2 protocol evolved from state channels in 2015 to Plasma in 2017, and finally to Rollup in 2019. The development of Rollup into the mainstream is the result of the continuous evolution of the Ethereum ecosystem, so that the original Sharding plan has also changed.
Obviously, the two powerful paths of Rollup and Sharding have been fully integrated, which means that the Sharding plan has been shelved and replaced, and the final roadmap of Rollup Centric is the finalized expansion strategy.
Because the central idea of sharding is to let nodes verify and store only a small part of transactions, rather than all transactions. This is consistent with the effect of Rollup, which processes most transactions in an off-chain environment and only presents verifiable results on the chain. If a large Rollup strategy is chosen, there is no need to promote sharding.
2) The Rollup roadmap solves the triple dilemma problem better than other alt-layers 1.
The expansion of the public blockchain faces the impossible triangle problem of decentralization, scalability, and security. Some alt-layer 1 high-performance chains claim to have solved this triple dilemma through engineering optimization of software and hardware. In fact, this is achieved at the expense of the decentralized nature of the client nodes.
Although vitalik did not say it explicitly, he was actually alluding to Solana. Although Solana has recently launched a new client, Firedancer, it will take a long time to reach the level of decentralization of Ethereum client nodes.
Vitalik believes that the combination of Data Availability Sampling (DAS) and SNARKs in the next stage of the Rollup strategy path can effectively solve the impossible triangle problem. The reason is that the client only needs to download a small amount of data and perform a very small amount of calculation to verify the accuracy of the transaction status, so that the transactions under Rollup can be infinitely magnified in theory, and the main network only needs to sample and verify the Blob data.
This may be the real advantage of Rollup Centric compared to other alt-layer 1 public chains. It achieves the possibility of high scalability without sacrificing the impossible triangle problem. Its ultimate goal is to achieve L1+L2 100,000+ TPS while the data processing capacity of each slot reaches 16M.
3) Rollup standards and regulations need to be tightened urgently. To fight against foreign aggressors, we must first stabilize the internal situation?
At present, the entire Ethereum layer 2 has been criticized for a lot of problems, even to the extent that layer 2 has delayed the outbreak of Ethereum. From the perspective of the secondary market, it is not difficult to understand that the market value growth of ETH itself is already very weak, and it also has to bring with it a bunch of high-market-value VC sell-pressure coins such as $ARB, $OP, $STRK, and $ZK? Whether the relationship between Rollup layer 2 and Ethereum is feeding or sucking blood is worth discussing.
In fact, to solve this dilemma, Vitalik has already given a signal: redefine layer 2. 1. Layer 2 must fully inherit the characteristics of Ethereum mainnet, which is trustless, open, and censorship-resistant. In simple terms, it must rely on Ethereums DA capabilities and the security level must reach the stage 1 level (with Trustless fraud proof guarantee).
Previously, the stacking strategy, Rollup As A Service, modular third-party DA, and shared sequencer have given the layer 2 market great freedom, diversity, and scalability. Before and after the Cancun upgrade, the layer 2 market was flourishing, and everyone expected that the explosive growth of layer 2 would drive the prosperity of the application market, thereby paying taxes to feed back the value growth of the Ethereum main chain.
However, the reality went against expectations. The boundless DA and low-cost threshold for launching chains led to the emergence of a large number of layer 2s. Instead of feeding back, they actually shared part of the Ethereum ecosystem growth expectations through airdrops and coin issuance expectations.
Therefore, Vitalik waved the flag to shrink the boundaries of Rollup, which will make the core strategy of layer 2 Rollup Centric truly form a synergy and benefit @CelestiaOrg DA of @alt_layer The expected business model under the RaaS and other business stacks is undoubtedly a big negative. For most layer 2s in the market, fully embracing the Ethereum mainnet and planning a path for differentiated expected growth is the best solution.
As the first new layer 2 that practices decentralized sequencer and is good at differentiated development, @Metis L2 has also developed fraud proofs, migrated Ethereum Blob and other strategies to cater to Ethereum. Recently, the small-cap layer 2 tokens led by $METIS have ushered in a wave of general increases, which may indirectly confirm this point.
4) After the Cancun upgrade, there is still a lot of room for imagination in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Previously, many people have discussed that after the Cancun upgrade, the benefits of Ethereums substantial technical upgrades have all ended, and the only way forward is to rely on the expansion of the application ecosystem? In fact, this is not the case.
1. The dual-route debate of layer 2 OP vs. ZK has not yet been decided. Originally, relying on the ZK Endgame theory, ZKs direction of layer 2 was considered politically correct and it became popular. However, Ethereums future development possibilities in data availability sampling, data compression technology, and SNARKs will blur and level the technical route differences between OP and ZK;
2. The importance of layer 2 cross-chain interoperability is highlighted. The Rollup Centric strategy emphasizes that the Ethereum ecosystem is a whole. Previously, each layer 2 developed infra based on its technological advantages, resulting in too many general layer 2s and no one paying attention to specific layer 2s. Now that layer 2 has rolled inward to the basic infra, whoever can do a good job of interoperability and full ecological integration will have the possibility of taking the lead in the next stage of layer 2 competition;
3. The layer 2 architecture cannot be limited to pure Rollup. Vitalik previously published an article discussing the possibility of ZK+Plasma. On the surface, it seems to be a flag-waving to Vitaliks entrepreneurship, but what he actually wants to express is that layer 2 should be based on the application type. Rollup, Plasma, and Validium all have specific preferred application directions. For example, Pasma can ensure that the ledger status is effectively tracked and recorded in payment scenarios, and has a better security release mechanism, which is suitable for payment applications. The use of a hybrid Plasma/Rollup architecture can achieve better scalability and privacy, and the theoretical TPS can reach about 260,000.
4. Boost the performance of the Ethereum mainnet. I have previously discussed that the short-term development of Rollup is not strong enough, but the performance of the Ethereum mainnet can be optimized to highlight the position. For example, further improving the efficiency of client software, reducing the cost of specific opcodes and precompiled Gas, multi-dimensional Gas pricing, EVM-MAX proposals, etc. These are not limited to Surge, and there will be greater optimization in the future Splurge stage.
above.
In short , Ethereum layer 2 has evolved from a grassroots development to the gradual formation of a unified Rollup route, to the flourishing RaaS involution, and now to strategic contraction and reshuffle, which is in line with the several major evolutionary stages that a set of mature business formats must go through. Therefore, the past pessimism and concerns are normal, and it is far from the time to conclude that Ethereum is not going to work.
Keep Optimistic, Bullish Ethereum!
