- Co-founder Vitalik Buterin notes that Ethereum’s choice to grow through complementary blockchains has produced a varied ecosystem.
- If developers fail to safeguard this pluralism, they run the risk of creating echo chambers or a monoculture.
According to Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, the blockchain’s much-discussed “rollup-centric road map” was the right decision, but it has its own set of drawbacks.
Ethereum wants to be the “world computer”—the operating system for a new class of user-owned, decentralized companies and organizations.
However, the blockchain is costly and slow.
The Ethereum development team determined that rather than expanding the blockchain by enhancements to Ethereum itself, the blockchain should grow through numerous additional blockchains in order to create a system that can reliably and economically serve billions of users.
Buterin claimed in his well-respected blog post last week that it was the proper decision to double down on these supplementary blockchains, also known as layer 2s or rollups in the crypto community.
He wrote, “This is powerful and allows for a great deal of creativity and independent innovation.”
According to him, the rollup model has produced a varied society that is yet bound together by a common set of ideals.
According to Buterin, Layer 2s enable the emergence of subcultures that are equipped with abundant resources and a feedback loop that compels them to change and grow in order to survive in the real world.
Every Ethereum layer 2 has, in general, a distinct “soul” that combines elements of the Ethereum culture with a personal touch.
But he cautioned against taking this contented state of affairs for granted.
Buterin claims that there is little motivation for rival layer 2 blockchains to cooperate, making coordination challenging.
The “monoculture”‘s danger
According to what he wrote, Layer 2 blockchains and their communities may begin to function more like isolated worlds with limited interaction.
On the other hand, certain layer 2 blockchains may take over and suppress Ethereum’s pluralistic spirit in favor of a “monoculture.”
He argued that everyone ends up searching in the same areas for ideas on what apps to develop and possibly even what technical decisions to make, whether because of common human biases, common economic incentives, or a too strong sense of unity over Ethereum culture.
Buterin proposed that layer 2 blockchains cooperate by funding the creation of common infrastructure.
Attempting to build on these concepts and continue to maximize Ethereum’s distinct edge as a pluralistic ecosystem are highly beneficial.
Layer 2s are expanding
In recent years, layer 2 blockchains have grown rapidly.
Almost 100 layer 2s are either active or in development, according to the crypto research website L2BEAT.
Data gathered by Jack Gorman, a data scientist at venture capital company Variant Fund, shows that over the course of the last year, existing layer 2 blockchains have handled nearly twice as many transactions as Ethereum itself.
Disclaimer : This article was created for informational purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice. An asset’s past performance does not predict its future returns. Before making an investment, please conduct your own research, as digital assets like cryptocurrencies are highly risky and volatile financial instruments.
