Vitalik’s Hilarious Rant: Why More EVM Chains Are Just Blockchain Boredom

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Key Highlights

  • Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, appears to have had enough of the blockchain version of “copycat” syndrome, where everyone keeps churning out EVM chains and Layer 1 networks like they’re on a culinary show, but instead of soufflés, it’s all about soulless code.
  • In a bizarre turn of events, Ethereum’s mainnet has doubled its monthly active addresses from a measly 7 million to a whopping 15 million-while Layer 2s seem to have taken a nosedive, dropping 50% to 30 million. Clearly, no one told the L2s that consolidation is the new black.
  • Buterin, in his infinite wisdom, suggests we stop copying existing protocols like it’s some sort of blockchain karaoke night and instead focus on real innovations in DeFi. You know, things like privacy features and making financial systems actually work for regular folks instead of just for crypto nerds.

So there’s Vitalik, with his Twitter fingers ready and a scowl on his face, calling for a moratorium on the endless cloning of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains and new Layer 1 networks. He points out that the blockchain party has already reached peak saturation-like that final slice of pizza that no one wants to touch. “Build something that brings something new to the table,” he implores, probably while gesturing dramatically at the screen like he’s auditioning for a soap opera.

He likens the creation of another optimistic bridge to Ethereum to the overzealous practice of forking DeFi protocols, which is basically like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic-pointless and ultimately a little tragic. “We’ve been too comfortable, and now our imagination has gone into hibernation,” he laments, sounding a bit like your disappointed high school art teacher.

Buterin’s evolving critique on alternative L1s and L2s

Our man Vitalik insists that Ethereum’s L1 is scaling faster than your grandma could use a coupon, with low fees and gas limits set to expand. Who needs more bland, generic chains cluttering up the landscape? “We don’t need more copypasta EVM chains, and definitely not more L1 networks,” he declares, probably shaking his fist at the sky for dramatic effect.

He seems to echo sentiments he shared just a day prior, as if he’s on a personal crusade against this particular brand of blockchain redundancy. Apparently, the whole “rollup-centric roadmap” thing is so last season, and L2s acting as “branded shards” are getting dusty.

Michael Egorov chimes in to back him up, saying that research into Zero Knowledge Proofs has made Ethereum efficient enough. “Maybe I was right about L2s not being the answer,” he notes, as if trying to sound smart while sipping his artisanal coffee.

Ethereum’s transaction fees have dropped lower than your uncle’s expectations for his favorite sports team, even as activity skyrockets. Monthly active addresses have surged, leaving L2 user numbers in the dust-because who wants to be part of a shrinking demographic?

$ETH gas fees have plummeted below $0.01 even as network activity hits an all-time high.

Near-zero cost.

– Ted (@TedPillows) January 17, 2026

Why don’t we need more L2 and EVM chains?

Buterin argues that the saturation point has arrived, and it’s time to put away the scissors and stop cloning each other’s homework. There are over 55 L2 rollups, many of which are just mimicking existing architectures without adding any spice to the pot-much like a bad restaurant that serves nothing but boiled chicken.

Thanks to upgrades like the Fusaka hard fork, Ethereum’s L1 is chugging along nicely, processing transactions with ease. The need for L2s as mere scaling tools is dwindling faster than a New Year’s resolution.

“L2s aren’t fantastic for DeFi because the beauty of DeFi lies in composability, and trying to piece together different protocols across multiple L2s is clunky at best,” Egorov quips, reminding us that sometimes the simplest solutions are best-like just sticking to a single layer.

Experts predict Ethereum will undergo further enhancements in 2026, including the Glamsterdam upgrade, which sounds like a music festival but is actually a technical overhaul that could triple the gas limit. If L2s don’t step up their game soon, they might find themselves as relevant as a flip phone in 2026.

The current EVM and L1/L2 landscape

The blockchain world currently resembles a high school cafeteria, divided between the jocks (robust L1 foundations) and the nerds (specialized L2 enhancements). Ethereum is still holding court as the prom king, hosting over 51% of stablecoin issuance and nearly 90% of tokenized assets.

Then there’s Solana, flexing its muscles with high throughput and processing transactions faster than you can say “crypto volatility.” Thanks to easy onboarding and developer interest, it’s become one of the coolest kids in the crypto schoolyard.

But on the L2 side, the market is maturing into actual ecosystems rather than just experimental playgrounds. L2s are handling almost 2 million daily transactions, twice that of Ethereum’s mainnet. But alas, many L2s are struggling to stay afloat amid the consolidation-like a small boat in a storm.

What DeFi should focus on instead?

Instead of chasing flashy new chains, Buterin urges builders to focus on genuine innovation. Think practical, lasting utility-like decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and stablecoins, which are more useful than a pocket full of rocks.

“Ethereum L1 is the base layer of the future financial system,” Egorov emphasizes, likely while adjusting his glasses in deep thought. He believes everything else should be built with that reality in mind-because let’s face it, the era of lazy forks is over. DeFi must either innovate or fade into the digital abyss.

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2026-02-05 17:35