The Ethereum Foundation presented an updated vision for the interaction between the Layer 1 (L1) and Layer 2 (L2) solutions, emphasizing their complementary functions and the scaling of the ecosystem without compromising security and decentralization.
The Ethereum Foundation development team introduced a document that partially revises the architecture of the Ethereum ecosystem. In particular, it states that the project should evolve as a unified system, where the L1 remains the core responsible for settlement and liquidity, while L2 solutions serve as a space for innovation, customization, and the growth of user services.
According to the document, the role of L2 networks has changed significantly over the past five years. Previously, their primary task was to scale the mainnet, but now the priority shifted toward differentiation — creating unique features, business models, and user scenarios. Scalability remains an important factor, but it’s no longer the primary one.
Ethereum’s L1 retains its status as a global hub for settlement, state storage, and liquidity. It’s expected to significantly increase its throughput while remaining resistant to censorship, open, secure, and decentralized. Developers note that zero-knowledge (ZK) proof technologies are advancing faster than expected, which could increase network throughput by thousands of times without abandoning core principles.
At the same time, no single blockchain can meet all the needs of the global digital economy on its own. This is why the number of L2 networks will continue to grow, as these solutions enable specialized functionalities, from enhanced privacy and low latency to unique pricing mechanisms and enterprise requirements.
The Ethereum Foundation emphasizes that L2 protocols gain significant advantages from integration with the mainnet, including:
- access to the largest base of users and devs;
- deep liquidity in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector;
- reduced costs by avoiding the need for their own validator infrastructure.
In return, L2 networks leverage the security of the L1, paying for resources as they use them. In turn, the development of L2 protocols strengthens Ethereum’s overall position by creating additional demand for ETH, expanding network effects, and reinforcing Ethereum’s role as a key settlement layer in a multichain economy.
Particular attention is given to interaction between L2 networks. Developers plan to advance interoperability mechanisms and shared liquidity, as well as reduce ecosystem fragmentation. Currently, blobs used for scaling are only about 30% utilized, leaving significant room for growth.
The document also outlines requirements for L2 protocols, including transparency of security architecture, the ability to safely withdraw funds to the mainnet even in the event of failures, and a commitment to continuously increasing decentralization. The most tightly integrated solutions are expected to aim for full compatibility with the mainnet and adopt so-called “native rollups.”
The Ethereum Foundation plans to continue investing in research and development, including technologies for synchronous interoperability across different ecosystem layers, faster transaction finality, and simplified access to liquidity. The ultimate goal is to build a global, open, and resilient on-chain economy, where networks at different levels operate as a unified system, ensuring scalability and usability for millions of users.
