Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is sounding the alarm: layer 2 (L2) networks must accelerate their path toward decentralization or risk losing his support and the trust of the broader Ethereum community. In a bold move, Buterin announced on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that by 2025, he will no longer endorse any L2 projects that haven’t achieved “Stage 1” of decentralization, a benchmark he introduced in a 2022 blog post.
This announcement serves as both a wake-up call and a challenge to the L2 ecosystem, particularly the rollup networks, which have gained significant traction but remain heavily reliant on centralized mechanisms. Buterin’s message is clear: decentralization is not optional—it is a necessity.
Why Decentralization is Non-Negotiable
For Buterin, decentralization is the cornerstone of the Ethereum ecosystem’s vision for a secure, efficient, and trustless environment. According to him, many L2 rollup solutions—designed to help scale Ethereum by bundling transactions off-chain—still operate with “training wheels” in the form of centralized control. The primary concern lies in multisig systems, where a small group of individuals can make key decisions, including freezing or rolling back transactions.
This centralized approach poses significant risks to network security and autonomy, making these rollups vulnerable to attacks or misuse of power. Buterin believes that only through true decentralization can L2 solutions fully protect user assets and deliver on the promise of a decentralized web.
In his post, Buterin made it clear that this shift isn't negotiable: “Starting next year, I plan to only publicly mention (in blogs, talks, etc.) L2s that are at stage 1+,” he wrote. This applies regardless of whether he has personal investments or relationships within the projects. It’s a decisive step that signals the end of what Buterin calls the “era of glorified multisigs.”
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Buterin’s Decentralization Hierarchy: The 3 Stages
In 2022, Buterin laid out a framework to evaluate L2 networks based on their level of decentralization. The stages are as follows:
- Stage 0: The network is heavily dependent on centralized control. Key operations, such as fraud detection or transaction finalization, rely on a small group of trusted entities, often through multisig wallets.
- Stage 1: The network begins to move away from centralized control, using cryptographic techniques like fraud proofs or zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to validate transactions. This reduces the reliance on any single entity but still retains some oversight mechanisms for emergencies.
- Stage 2: Full decentralization is achieved. At this stage, the network operates autonomously without any centralized control, relying solely on cryptographic proofs and the Ethereum blockchain for transaction validation.
Buterin views Stage 1 as the minimum requirement for an L2 solution to be considered trustworthy. Stage 0, which includes many of today’s popular rollups, is no longer acceptable in his eyes, as it leaves the door open for centralization risks that contradict Ethereum’s founding principles.
The Road Ahead for Layer 2 Networks
So far, a few major L2 networks have crossed the threshold into Stage 1 decentralization, including Arbitrum One, OP Mainnet, and zkSync Lite. However, none have yet achieved Stage 2, meaning full decentralization remains an aspiration rather than a reality.
Buterin’s recent comments will likely push many projects to fast-track their decentralization efforts. If they don’t, they could find themselves losing the support of not only the Ethereum community but also one of its most influential figures.
What’s at Stake for L2 Networks?
The rise of L2 solutions is critical for Ethereum’s scalability, but without decentralization, these networks could be perceived as merely scaling solutions that sacrifice security for efficiency. As Ethereum continues to grow, the community's expectations for transparency, security, and autonomy will only increase. Buterin’s stance indicates that L2 projects need to evolve or face being left behind.
The end of “glorified multisigs” marks a significant turning point. It’s not just a technical requirement; it’s a philosophical one. Decentralization is the foundation of blockchain technology, and failing to prioritize it may cause long-term damage to trust within the ecosystem.
Conclusion: The Clock is Ticking
Vitalik Buterin’s ultimatum has set a clear deadline: by 2025, only truly decentralized L2 networks will be recognized. The race is now on for rollup projects to meet this demand and prove their commitment to Ethereum’s vision of a decentralized future. For those that succeed, the rewards will be immense—greater trust, wider adoption, and alignment with the ethos of the Ethereum community. For those that fail, irrelevance could be the harsh reality.
In this new era of crypto, decentralization isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the future. And according to Buterin, that future starts now.
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