TLDR
- Vitalik Buterin predicts rapid progress in solving cross-L2 interoperability issues
- EIP-7683 aims to standardize communication between different Ethereum L2 networks
- Buterin suggests all rollups will transition to zero-knowledge technology in the long term
- New address standards and off-chain data access methods are part of the proposed improvements
- The Ethereum community is showing strong interest in enhancing L2 interoperability
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shared his thoughts on the future of layer-2 (L2) networks, predicting rapid progress in solving cross-chain interoperability issues. In recent social media posts, Buterin expressed confidence that users will soon experience a seamless experience across the entire “Ethereum-verse.”
The Ethereum ecosystem has seen significant growth in L2 solutions, which aim to improve scalability and reduce transaction costs. However, moving assets and data between these different L2 networks has often been complex and inefficient. Buterin’s recent comments suggest that this friction may soon be a thing of the past.
Cross-L2 roadmap in one tweet:
* 3770 (cross-L2 addrs)
* 7683 (cross-L2 sends via liquidity providers)
* 3668 (L2 light clients)
* Cross-L2-replayable account state updatesThe above is enough already. Later, phase 2:
* L1sload/staticcall
* Keystore rollups
* Proof aggregation— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) August 5, 2024
Central to this vision is a series of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) designed to enhance L2 compatibility. One key proposal is EIP-7683, which aims to create a standard method for different Ethereum L2 networks to communicate and execute trades across chains. This could significantly simplify cross-chain transactions for users and developers alike.
Another important proposal is EIP-3370, which introduces a new address standard. This would require wallets and decentralized applications to display chain-specific addresses using human-readable prefixes, making it easier for users to identify and interact with different networks within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Buterin also highlighted EIP-3668, which proposes a standardized way for Ethereum smart contracts to access off-chain data. This could make it more cost-effective for developers to build applications that require large amounts of data without incurring high on-chain storage costs.
Looking to the future, Buterin suggested that all rollups will eventually transition to zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. This shift would allow L2 networks to finalize transactions to Ethereum more frequently, potentially once per slot. However, Buterin estimates this transition will take more than five years to fully materialize.
The Ethereum co-founder also mentioned “cross-L2-replayable account state updates” as part of the roadmap. This approach allows L2 networks to receive recent layer-1 state updates while maintaining security and low latency, further improving the interoperability between different layers of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Buterin’s optimism about solving L2 interoperability issues has generated significant interest within the Ethereum community. Many developers and users are eager to see a more interconnected and user-friendly L2 landscape.
However, Buterin has also cautioned against overly complex L2 solutions in separate discussions. He emphasized the need for a balanced approach in blockchain ecosystem development, highlighting potential risks associated with highly complicated L2 networks.
The broader blockchain community generally believes that base layer networks should prioritize simplicity to minimize security risks. As a result, L2 networks often take on the responsibility of handling more complex features and providing advanced scaling solutions.
As work continues on these proposals and updates, the Ethereum ecosystem is poised for potentially significant improvements in L2 interoperability. If successful, these changes could lead to a more unified and accessible Ethereum experience for users across various L2 networks.
