Vitalik Buterin joins critics of layer 3 solutions

Vitalik Buterin, one of the creators of the Ethereum blockchain, confirmed his position regarding layer 3 networks.

Buterin joined the discussion on the value of layer 3 (L3) solutions, citing his post from a year and a half ago.

Recently, an online debate broke out regarding the usefulness of L3 protocols for the Ethereum ecosystem. Several speakers pointed out the benefits of these solutions.

He attached to the post a link to his article entitled “What kind of layer 3s make sense?” which he published in September 2022. In it, Buterin expressed the opinion that this category of networks is not directly intended for scaling. Instead, such protocols would implement certain “customized features” for layer 2, he suggested at the time.

Layer 3 solutions are the general name for protocols deployed on top of existing layer 2 (L2) solutions. As with L2’s, the third layer of networks is designed to scale and expand the functionality of the main blockchain.

A few days ago, Polygon Labs CEO Marc Boiron said via X that third-layer networks are not needed to scale Ethereum and threaten the security of the ecosystem’s leading blockchain.

Boiron added that L3 is not needed to scale Ethereum, so Polygon Labs is not working on such solutions.

The debate over the value of layer 3 networks began a day before Boiron’s remarks. A developer under the nickname Potuz, in response to a corresponding question, cited several advantages of such solutions.