Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin recently expressed that second-layer solutions, which help Ethereum scale, have “back doors.”
Second layer or Layer 2 networks are solutions intended to improve the scalability, performance and speed of blockchains and, in the case of Ethereum, these networks are also designed to reduce gas fees and allow the cost of sending transactions on the network more accessible.
However, despite the advantages of second-layer networks for Ethereum, Vitalik has sparked a new debate on decentralization after expressing his views on this type of networks.
The young creator of Ethereum stated that Layer 2 solutions have “back doors” that developers can use to make changes to the protocols if they discover any errors or to save assets.
The crypto community erupted on
Decentralization: The controversy of the second layer in blockchain
Second layer networks generally represent an innovation in the crypto/blockchain industry.
These solutions seek to solve the blockchain trilemma, especially one of the fundamental problems facing level 1 blockchains: scalability. Ecosystems such as Bitcoin and Ethereum use second-layer solutions such as Lightning Network (Bitcoin), Polygon, Arbitrum and Optmism (Ethereum), to process transactions at high speed and at low cost, guaranteeing security. However, these solutions have also been strongly criticized for being centralized projects.
Therefore, the focus of the controversy caused by Vitalik's recent comments is on decentralization.
“The Three Transitions” by Vitalik Buterin
Previously, Vitalik had pointed out that second-layer networks have many benefits for Ethereum, transforming the way users interact with the network and even reducing its complexity.
In his document “The Three Transitions”, Vitalik spoke about the discomfort that Ethereum often generates for some users. Firstly, due to the poor scalability and high gas costs of the main network. Secondly, by having to store and manage the funds themselves and, thirdly, by the lack of privacy of the transactions, since they are stored in a public blockchain.
Given this, Vitalik pointed out that second-layer networks can solve these challenges by providing solutions that make transactions scale and cheaper, reduce complexity and offer users a higher level of financial privacy. However, all these solutions are offered to the detriment of decentralization and, in some cases, security.
The rear doors and training wheels
Now, Vitalik cast new doubts on the decentralization of second-layer networks.
The creator of Ethereum said that Layer 2 scaling and rollup solutions have a backdoor. Basically, this means that the developers of these networks can make changes to their protocols and that they have access to assets, which they can freeze or disappear.
Vitalik also stated that the backdoors of Layer 2 networks act as training wheels for the projects, referring to the fact that most of these are in full development.
Chris Blec, who presents himself as a fierce advocate of decentralization, called second-layer networks “big banking 2.0.” Additionally, he noted that due to their level of centralization, second-layer networks may face possible regulation.
Continue reading: The Ethereum network accumulates $1.300 billion in fees paid per day this year
