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Vitalik Buterin criticized the rise of generic EVM chains
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He said Ethereum base layer scaling reduces the need for new L1s
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Future development should focus on specialization and real utility
Pushback Against Generic Chains
Vitalik Buterin has urged developers to stop launching generic EVM based Layer 1s and rollups that offer little differentiation.
He argued that Ethereum’s base layer is scaling effectively and already providing ample blockspace, making many new chains redundant.
Reevaluating the Rollup-Centric Model
Buterin said the original rollup-centric roadmap no longer fully makes sense, noting that Layer 2 networks have decentralized more slowly than expected while Ethereum itself has continued to improve.
Instead of repeating existing designs, he called for builders to focus on systems that deliver new technical value.
A Broader Spectrum of Layer 2 Use Cases
Buterin outlined support for app-specific chains, privacy-focused systems, and ultra-low latency architectures. He also described a category of institutional Layer 2s that could provide algorithmic transparency without being fully trustless.
While not rejecting Layer 2s entirely, he emphasized that future success depends on meaningful specialization rather than replication.
