Recently, Vitalik has posted some sharp opinions on X again, this time targeting the L2 ecosystem. His core argument is quite straightforward: too many rollup projects are just copying and pasting EVM chains, then adding a standard bridge to finish the job, with no real innovation.

He used a vivid analogy, saying that the current situation is like copying Compound governance—everyone is using the same model, and no one wants to try something new. He even directly stated: we really don’t need more copy-pasted EVM chains. Behind this assertion is a very practical background—the scalability of Ethereum itself is improving, and the throughput of the base layer is also getting better. This weakens the justification for rollup projects whose main selling point is "cheaper."

But Vitalik’s criticism isn’t that the future of L2 is bleak. He pointed out two routes he believes still have potential. One is tightly coupled application-specific systems, where Ethereum maintains a leading role in settlement, accounts, or validation functions, with execution layers elsewhere. The other is institution- or application-driven chains, which send cryptographic proofs or state commitments back to Ethereum. These are not Ethereum itself, but they aim to promote transparency and verifiability.

He also emphasized a particular point: having a bridge doesn’t mean you are part of the Ethereum ecosystem. "Vibes need to match substance"—your marketing rhetoric should match how closely you are coupled with Ethereum. This sounds simple, but it hits the soft spots of many projects; many L2 projects are indeed over-promoting their relationship with Ethereum.

After these comments were made, the entire L2 ecosystem responded. Arbitrum’s Steven Goldfeder said they should be seen as close allies of Ethereum rather than Ethereum itself. Base’s Jesse Pollak believes that as the performance of the base layer improves, rollups must offer value beyond just "cheaper." Polygon and other projects frame Vitalik’s critique as a repositioning call rather than a threat, emphasizing their unique value.

From a broader perspective, this discussion reflects a key issue in the maturation of the crypto ecosystem: what kind of scaling solutions are meaningful? As Ethereum’s fees stay low, this question becomes more and more urgent. The market is reassessing which rollup projects truly have unique value and which are just riding the wave.