Vitalik: New EVM chains should innovate and genuinely rely on Ethereum, avoiding blind copying

On February 5th, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin posted a statement saying, “Currently, many new EVM chains are simply copying existing architectures or connecting to Ethereum via a one-week delayed optimistic bridge. This approach is similar to repeatedly copying Compound in governance, which is ‘comfortable’ but exhausts innovation in the long run, leading the ecosystem into a dead end. If a new chain is not connected to Ethereum via an optimistic bridge (i.e., a pure L1 replacement), the situation is even worse. The ecosystem truly needs projects that bring new features, such as privacy protection, application-specific efficiency, or ultra-low latency. The ‘Ethereum connection’ must match the actual functionality. For example, prediction market applications can issue and settle markets on L1, manage user accounts, but transaction execution occurs within a Rollup or L2 system, with L1 verifying signatures and market states. Architectures with deep L1 integration should be prioritized over superficial bridging for recognition. Another type of ‘application chain’ can verify algorithm execution on platforms like government, social media, or gaming, using technologies like STARKs to ensure updates are authorized and executed according to pre-committed rules. While these chains are not fully Ethereum, they can provide algorithm transparency and minimize trust, enabling economic activities that were previously impossible. New projects should achieve two things: first, truly bring innovation, not just copy existing EVM chains; second, ensure that PR image matches actual functionality. The project’s claimed level of connection to Ethereum should accurately reflect its technical and ecological dependencies, ensuring ecosystem interoperability and long-term value.”