Vitalik Buterin Urges Innovation Beyond Copy‑Paste EVM Layer‑2s

Vitalik Buterin has publicly urged builders to stop launching near‑identical, EVM‑based Layer‑2 networks and to prioritize original designs instead of “copy‑paste” projects, arguing the trend undermines meaningful innovation in the Ethereum scaling ecosystem ^[2][4].

Buterin criticized the current pattern of standard EVM chains paired with optimistic bridges, likening it to excessive governance forking that can stifle progress, and said Ethereum's base layer scaling will provide substantial blockspace for most use cases—though he noted AI applications may demand still greater capacity; he also argued that deep integration with the Ethereum mainnet should be a foundational design goal rather than an afterthought ^[1].

The co‑founder has also voiced concerns about centralization in Layer‑2 deployment, specifically calling out control dynamics around projects like Coinbase’s Base and urging attention to who benefits from scaling decisions and how trust and incentives are structured ^[3][4].

Buterin’s comments frame a broader warning: without more specialized, purpose‑driven designs and stronger decentralization, the Layer‑2 landscape risks stagnation and loss of long‑term relevance—pressuring new networks to demonstrate meaningful differentiation and tighter mainnet integration ^[2][4][1].

His call to action asks builders to pursue substantive technical and governance innovation across Layer‑2s rather than replicate existing EVM templates, emphasizing ecosystem resilience and alignment with Ethereum’s base‑layer objectives ^[1][2][4].