A recent conversation with Vitalik Buterin on Platform scalability tool for the Ethereum network.
A recent conversation with Vitalik Buterin on Platform scalability tool for the Ethereum network.
At its core, an L2 solution is a secondary framework or protocol built on top of the Ethereum blockchain, designed to increase transaction capacity and speed without compromising the security provided by the main chain, known as layer 1 (L1). This conversation is vital because it helps users understand the types of solutions available and their respective trade-offs.
Buterin participated in a discussion and clarified that “L2” encompasses both accumulations and validiums. The distinction is important for users to understand different security and scalability features. Rollups are “security-friendly” solutions that group or “roll up” transactions into a single proof, which is published to the main chain.
This process allows for high security, as the L1 blockchain protects them directly. In contrast, “scale-friendly” validiums are designed to increase capacity by storing data off-chain but with testing still on-chain, offering slightly less security for much greater scalability.
The distinction is nuanced but significant. While rollups are more expensive because data is published on-chain, they offer greater security. Validiums, on the other hand, offer a cheaper alternative, with a slight disadvantage in terms of security. Buterin suggests that terminology should reflect these differences without delegitimizing either option. On the spectrum of L2 solutions, he proposes terms like “strong L2” for accumulations and “light L2” for validiums to help users better navigate their options.
Interestingly, Buterin also points out that the architecture of L2 solutions is not strictly about security levels. He previously attempted to categorize these layers, but recognized that there is a significant “gap” between abstracts and validiums, further complicating classification.
