Why Vitalik Believes L2s Can’t Be “Ethereum Shards” Anymore

Vitalik says Ethereum’s scaling and higher gas limits mean L2s no longer act as shards, opening new design possibilities.

Vitalik Buterin has questioned the long-held view that Ethereum layer-2 networks act as extensions of Ethereum itself.

He said recent changes in Ethereum’s scaling path mean the earlier role assigned to L2s no longer fits current conditions.

Ethereum Scaling Has Changed at the Base Layer

Ethereum was designed to scale through block space backed by Ethereum’s own security.

This meant activity would remain valid and uncensored if Ethereum continued operating. Under this view, L2s were expected to act like branded shards.

There have recently been some discussions on the ongoing role of L2s in the Ethereum ecosystem, especially in the face of two facts:

• L2s’ progress to stage 2 (and, secondarily, on interop) has been far slower and more difficult than originally expected
• L1 itself is scaling,…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 3, 2026

Buterin said this framework no longer matches reality. Ethereum’s base layer is now scaling directly.

Fees are low, and gas limits are expected to rise sharply in 2026. As a result, L1 no longer depends on L2s to provide basic scaling.

He said a fast chain linked to Ethereum through a multisig bridge does not scale Ethereum. In such cases, the trust assumptions differ. This breaks the original definition of Ethereum scaling.

L2 Progress and Limits of the Original Model

Buterin noted that many L2s have struggled to reach stage two decentralization. Progress on interoperability has also been slower than expected.

Some L2 teams have said they may never move beyond stage one.

He said these choices may meet regulatory or business needs. However, they also   mean those networks do not provide full Ethereum security.

In those cases, they should not be treated as Ethereum shards.

Buterin said this shift is acceptable because Ethereum itself is scaling. L2s no longer need to meet shard-level guarantees to support network growth.

This allows a wider range of designs to exist.

A Broader Role for Layer-2 Networks

Buterin said L2s should be seen as a spectrum rather than a single category. Some may be tightly connected to Ethereum security. Others may trade security for features or control.

He said L2s should offer value beyond scaling. Examples include privacy systems, specialized virtual machines, low-latency execution, or designs for social and identity uses.

Some may focus on extreme throughput beyond L1 capacity. He added that L2s using ETH should meet at least stage one standards.

Otherwise, they function as separate chains with bridges. Clear labeling helps users understand trust assumptions.

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Native Rollups and Future Interoperability

Buterin said Ethereum is moving toward native rollup support. This includes a precompile that verifies zero-knowledge EVM proofs.

The precompile would be part of Ethereum itself. He said this design would upgrade with Ethereum.

Bugs would be fixed through network upgrades. This removes reliance on external security councils.

The approach could support strong interoperability and composability. L2s could extend Ethereum rather than copy it.

Buterin said developers should focus on building new systems instead of mirroring L1.