The Ethereum Foundation has outlined a refreshed vision for the evolving relationship between Layer 1 (L1) and Layer 2 (L2) networks, signaling a major shift in how the ecosystem approaches scalability and innovation.
In a recent blog post, the foundation emphasized that Ethereum L1 will continue to serve as the ecosystem’s core settlement layer, acting as a global hub for liquidity, shared state, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
At the same time, the role of L2s is evolving beyond simple scaling solutions toward offering differentiated services, customization, and innovation.
The foundation noted that while L2s were initially designed primarily to scale Ethereum, their focus has now shifted toward building unique features, specialized use cases, and independent on-chain economies.
This change reflects the growing maturity of the ecosystem and the increasing demand for tailored blockchain solutions.
As part of its guidance, the Ethereum Foundation encouraged L2 networks to achieve at least “Stage 1” security standards, while gradually progressing toward more advanced “Stage 2” configurations. These include enhanced interoperability, synchronous composability, and the adoption of emerging concepts such as native rollups.
The post also highlighted the need to address fragmentation across the multi-chain ecosystem.
The foundation identified cross-chain user experience as a key challenge and committed to prioritizing solutions that enable seamless interaction between L1 and various L2 networks.
Additionally, the Ethereum Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to scaling the base layer without compromising core principles such as decentralization, security, and censorship resistance.
It pointed to underutilized resources like data blobs, currently operating at around 30% capacity, as an area for further optimization.
The foundation described its long-term goal as building a cohesive and unified system where L1 and L2 networks complement each other, enabling broader adoption among both individual and institutional users.
The updated vision underscores Ethereum’s strategy of balancing a strong foundational layer with a diverse and interoperable network of scaling solutions, positioning the ecosystem for its next phase of growth.
