Vitalik: Copy‑Paste L2s Stall Ethereum — Build Real Bridges, Not Clones

Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin criticized the recent proliferation of “copy‑paste” Layer‑2 (L2) networks that largely reuse EVM‑compatible designs and optimistic bridges, arguing they add little real value and risk a technical dead end. In a February 5 post, Buterin said many new L2s launch from familiarity rather than necessity — duplicating chains or creating standalone EVM networks with weak or absent bridges to Ethereum — which undermines security, composability and long‑term trust. He warned specifically against EVM chains that rely on week‑long optimistic exit periods and chains that drop bridges to mainnet. Buterin noted Ethereum’s base layer will continue to add EVM block space through 2026, but acknowledged some workloads (for example AI or low‑latency applications) may legitimately need specialized execution environments. He urged builders to “bring something new to the table,” favor designs that retain strong ties to Ethereum (app‑chains or L2s that read Ethereum data directly), and clearly state their technical dependence on mainnet. He also accepted a role for institutional or permissioned L2s that publish cryptographic proofs on‑chain — provided projects transparently represent that they are not trustless. For traders, the comments underscore an ongoing scaling debate: projects that meaningfully inherit Ethereum security and composability are likelier to sustain developer activity and value accrual, while tokenized clones or isolated EVM chains may struggle to maintain relevance and capital inflows.