We Don’t Need New EVM Chains and Alternative L1 Networks: Vitalik

In a series of pointed posts on X, Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin has called for a shift away from the proliferation of copycat Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains and new Layer 1 (L1) networks. 

Buterin argues that the blockchain ecosystem has reached a point of diminishing returns from such repetitive development. “Build something that brings something new to the table,” he stated in a latest post. 

He links the creation of yet another EVM chain with an optimistic bridge to Ethereum to the overused practice of forking DeFi protocols like Compound for governance tweaks. “Something we’ve done far too much for far too long, because we got comfortable, and which has sapped our imagination and put us in a dead end,” he wrote. 

Buterin’s evolving critique on alternative L1s and L2s

Buterin emphasized that Ethereum’s L1 is already scaling effectively, with low fees and projected gas limit increases set to deliver ample EVM-compatible blockspace. This, according to him, reduces the necessity for additional generic chains that offer little beyond what exists. “We don’t friggin need more copypasta EVM chains, and we definitely don’t need even more L1s,” he says, addressing newly launching projects with no such innovations. 

His view builds on a similar concern Buterin raised just a day earlier on February 3. In that post, he declared that the original “rollup-centric roadmap” for Ethereum scaling, where L2s act as “branded shards” extending the main network, no longer makes sense. 

Echoing Buterin’s views, Michael Egorov noted that research in the field of Zero Knowledge Proofs have helped make Ethereum efficient enough. “Maybe around a year ago, I wrote that L2s are probably a bad way to scale Ethereum, and that there must be a different approach. Interestingly, Ethereum also received the same criticism from the Solana community,” Egorov stated in an email, exclusively shared with The Crypto Times. 

Notably, Ethereum’s base layer has scaled directly, with the transaction fees on the network shrinking to record lows despite increased activity. Monthly active addresses on Ethereum’s mainnet surged from 7 million to 15 million in recent months, even as L2 user numbers dropped by about 50% to around 30 million. 

Why don’t we need more L2 and EVM chains?

Buterin’s rationale centers on saturation and stagnation. The Ethereum ecosystem has seen an explosion of L2s and EVM-compatible chains in recent times, many of which replicate existing architectures without adding meaningful value. This “copy-paste” approach, Buterin says, has limited creativity and led to fragmented liquidity across over 55 L2 rollups. 

With Ethereum’s L1 now processing transactions efficiently, thanks to upgrades like the Fusaka hard fork in late 2025, which boosted the gas limit and enabled parallel processing, the need for L2s purely as scaling tools has diminished. 

“L2s are generally not great for DeFi because the power of DeFi comes from composability, and composing different pieces across multiple L2s is extremely clunky, not atomic and vulnerable,” Egorov says, “We only need to remember the many cases of bridge hacks and unexploited vulnerabilities that the market has seen reported in the past.”

Experts predict further enhancements on Ethereum in 2026, including the Glamsterdam upgrade, which could triple the gas limit to 200 million. This direct scaling means L2s risk becoming redundant if they don’t differentiate. Buterin also noted that some L2s may never advance beyond “stage 1” decentralization due to technical hurdles or regulatory needs, further eroding their role as true Ethereum extensions. 

The current EVM and L1/L2 landscape

The current blockchain landscape reflects a clear divide between robust L1 foundations and specialized L2 enhancements. Ethereum remains the dominant L1 for settlement and data availability, hosting over 51% of stablecoin issuance and nearly 90% of the total tokenized assets. 

Solana, another key L1, excels in high-throughput applications, processing 1,400 transactions per second at minimal fees, with a 78% surge in developer interest and 186% revenue growth year-over-year. Solana’s appeal in easy onboarding marks it one of the most popular blockchain in the current market, major thanks to PumpFun. 

On the L2 side, the market has matured into full ecosystems rather than experimental layers. Combined, L2s handle nearly 2 million daily transactions, which is double than Ethereum’s mainnet volume. 

However, data from TokenTerminal indicates that many L2s are struggling to survive amid consolidation. Base, controlled by Coinbase, has overtaken Arbitrum in DeFi TVL, but its centralized nature raises questions about long-term alignment with Ethereum’s ethos. 

What DeFi should focus on instead?

Rather than chasing more chains, Buterin urges builders to prioritize genuine innovation. He urges to focus on protocols with lasting utility, like decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and stablecoins, which people actually use and have practicality. “Ethereum L1 is the base layer of the future financial system – and everything else should be built with that reality in mind,” Egorov pushes. 

This pivot aligns “vibes with substance,” ensuring projects’ public image reflects their technical ties to Ethereum. As regulatory clarity grows, with U.S. bipartisan crypto legislation expected in 2026, DeFi’s focus on real-world integration, like tokenized assets and payments, could drive adoption. Ultimately, Buterin’s message is clear: the era of lazy forks is over; DeFi must innovate or fade. 

Also read: All Ethereum Private Keys Are Public—Good Luck Finding One

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