Vitalik Buterin Says Ethereum Is ‘ Where Yesterday’s FUD Is Today’s Solved Problem’

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As a researcher with extensive experience in blockchain technology and Ethereum scaling solutions, I have closely followed the developments within the Ethereum ecosystem. Vitalik Buterin’s recent comments on the current state of Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) projects, particularly Optimism’s OP Mainnet, caught my attention.

On June 11th, Vitalik Buterin, one of Ethereum Foundation’s co-founders, shared his thoughts on the progress of Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) initiatives, with a focus on Optimistic Ethereum’s OP Mainnet.

In a recent social media post on platform X, now referred to as X, Vitalik Buterin shared an image displaying various Ethereum L2 (Layer 2) scaling solutions. These solutions are arranged based on their development stage and the type of rollup technology they employ, either ZK Rollups or Optimistic Rollups. According to Buterin’s post, “stage 1+” L2s denote those with robust proof systems ensuring strong security assurances. He welcomes Optimism to this advanced category and anticipates the swift maturation of more L2 projects, particularly those utilizing Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs.

As a researcher studying the development of Ethereum scaling solutions, I’ve observed that, according to Buterin’s description, no ZK-Rollups have progressed to stage 2 yet. The stages he referred to as having “teeth” only apply to Optimistic Rollups such as Fuel V1 and DeGate V1, which have advanced to this level.

Ethereum: where yesterday’s FUD is today’s solved problem.

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) June 11, 2024

The depicted image hails from L2BEAT, a platform specifically designed for monitoring and evaluating diverse Ethereum Layer 2 scaling technologies.

L2BEAT provides an in-depth exploration of various Level 2 (L2) Ethereum projects, encompassing elements like technology, benchmarks, security, and user adoption. Their well-structured classification system is intended to facilitate a clear understanding of the distinct methods aimed at enhancing Ethereum’s scalability, while keeping users updated on the latest progress of each project.

Stage refers to the rollup stage based on its featured and maturity:

  • Stage 0 (“full training wheels”)
  • Stage 1 (“limited training wheels”)
  • Stage 2 (“No training wheels”)

Stage 0: Full Training Wheels

“The term ‘Stage 0’ indicates that the Layer 2 solution is still in its early stages of development. At this point, it presents several significant constraints.”

  1. Incomplete Proof System: The mechanism for verifying transactions, known as the proof system, is still being developed.
  2. Withdrawal Censorship: There is a risk that users’ withdrawals can be restricted by centralized operators who have permission to control this process.
  3. Centralized Upgrades: Updates managed by centralized actors, as opposed to a more decentralized Security Council, provide users with less than 7 days to exit in the event of operator issues or censorship.

Stage 1: Limited Training Wheels

In simpler terms, reaching “Stage 1” signifies some advancement beyond the initial stage, but there are still significant improvements required to ensure greater decentralization and enhance user confidence.

  1. Restricted Fraud Proofs: Only pre-approved (whitelisted) actors can submit fraud proofs, which limits openness and decentralization.
  2. Short Upgrade Notices: Upgrades that are not related to on-chain provable bugs give users less than 30 days to exit, limiting their response time.
  3. Broad Security Council Actions: The Security Council’s actions are not strictly limited to on-chain provable bugs, suggesting a need for clearer governance rules.

L2BEAT points out that these stages do not reflect the security of the rollup itself.

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2024-06-12 13:08