Ethereum 2.0 Launch: Layer 2 Solutions May Be Key to Long-Term Development

The Ethereum 2.0 Beacon Chain officially launched its genesis block on the evening of December 1, marking an important step in Ethereum's transition to the PoS consensus mechanism. This is a milestone event for the Ethereum community, signifying the formal initiation of the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade and laying the foundation for future orders of magnitude in scalability.

However, the implementation of Ethereum 2.0 still faces numerous challenges. The expected multi-year implementation period, the frequently changed roadmap, and the controversial migration costs all bring uncertainty to this major upgrade. Meanwhile, various Layer 2 scaling solutions have emerged within the Ethereum ecosystem, such as Rollup, Plasma, and Validium. These solutions may have advantages over the sharding that Ethereum 2.0 focuses on in terms of scalability, implementation period, and engineering difficulty.

Therefore, at least in the short to medium term, Layer 2 seems to be a more attractive scaling option and may even become an important part of Ethereum's long-term evolution. This article will explore the necessity and value of Layer 2 in the context of Ethereum 2.0 and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various Layer 2 solutions as well as the current ecological status.

Layer2 may become Ethereum's "long-term partner" infrastructure

For a long time, Layer2 has been regarded as a transitional solution for public chains to mature. However, the recent change in attitude from the Ethereum core development team indicates that the priority of Layer2 solutions (, especially Rollup ), has surpassed the originally planned sharding scheme. This adjustment reflects the increasingly prominent strategic value of Layer2.

Ethereum founder Vitalik once pointed out that the general approach in the blockchain field is to keep the underlying layer simple and build complex functionalities through Layer 2. From this design philosophy, Ethereum and Layer 2 are more likely to coexist in the long term rather than serve as a short-term aid. The support of several important DeFi projects for Layer 2 solutions further strengthens the position of Layer 2 in the Ethereum ecosystem.

The CEO of a certain Layer 2 solution provider metaphorically compared Ethereum to a Swiss Army knife. While it is powerful, it still requires more specialized tools in specific scenarios. This highlights the importance of Layer 2 solutions as long-term partners of Ethereum.

Layer2 solutions flourish, Rollup is the most favored.

Currently, there are various Layer 2 solutions in the Ethereum ecosystem, including state channels, sidechains, Plasma, Validium, ZK Rollup, and Optimistic Rollup. These solutions have their own characteristics in terms of data storage, computation location, and security mechanisms.

For DApp developers, choosing the right Layer 2 solution based on specific needs may be the best option. Even in the same scenario, it may be necessary to use multiple solutions simultaneously. Some platforms offer on-demand customized Layer 2 solutions, allowing for flexible combinations of scalability, privacy, and other features, providing developers with more choices.

Among the many Layer 2 solutions, the Rollup series has attracted attention for its good scalability and support from mainstream DeFi projects. In particular, Optimistic Rollup has been adopted or supported by leading projects such as Synthetix and Uniswap, demonstrating broad application prospects.

However, the diversification of Layer 2 solutions has also brought new challenges, especially regarding the composability of the DeFi ecosystem. The interoperability between different Layer 2 solutions needs to be improved to avoid further fragmentation of liquidity.

Overall, as the Ethereum ecosystem continues to grow, the difficulty of fundamental transformations is also increasing. In this context, Layer 2 solutions are likely to become important partners and infrastructure supplements for the long-term development of Ethereum. The Ethereum community may continue to adjust its roadmap, but the important position of Layer 2 in the Ethereum ecosystem has already been established.