The time period “Ethereum Layer-2” is mostly thought to imply that the chain inherits Ethereum safety. Nonetheless, the strains are all the time blurry and stay intact, particularly with the rise in OP stack chains utilizing various knowledge availability (DA) layers. These so-called “optims” accept Ethereum, however publish knowledge elsewhere and introduce some further belief.
Togluru Maharamov, a roll-up researcher and former scroll contributor, is a critic of the voice of free L2 definition, declared on X on Wednesday.
“The most effective factor is not L2. Anybody who says in any other case is attempting to make you a PSYOP.”
A very good instance of that is CELO, the place BlockWorks is reported as a case research during which L1 turns into L2. Generally, the Ethereum rollup posts the info to Ethereum itself. Initially by way of Calldata and now principally by way of Blobs. This enables for helpful properties of unauthorized state reconstruction and withdrawal from L2 to Ethereum Mainnet.
In distinction, Optimiums outsources DA to off-chain networks comparable to Eigenda, Celestia, and so on. and depends on proofs to show that knowledge is out there. They might accept Ethereum utilizing proof of fraud, however Ethereum provides a layer of belief that can’t be immediately verified.
Vitalik Buterin is free to make use of “L2” and in reality we’re significantly in good firm there, as we name CELO shifting to “L2”, however the distinction is greater than semantics.
The Ethereum Scaling Tracker L2Beat now classifies most optims as “different.” That is all classes of chains that don’t meet strict rollup requirements. For instance, CELO accomplished the migration in March 2025 to run on the OP stack on Eigenda.
In line with L2Beat, two vital checks for rollup standing fail.
- There are fewer than 5 exterior actors who can submit fraud proof
- There are not any DA bridges to publish eigenda availability proof on Ethereum
Outcomes: If knowledge is lacking, there isn’t any L1 intensive remedy.
The chance of shifting to Ethereum in late 2024 can also be categorized into this bucket for related causes – reliance on allowed challenger units – posting knowledge on Ethereum.
In line with Sreeram Kannan, founding father of Eigenlayer, Eigenda is “scaling protocols in Blob areas,” whereas rollups could be considered “scaling protocols for execution.” In each circumstances, knowledge and logic happen outdoors of Ethereum’s protocol guidelines, however solely a rollup ensures that Ethereum can immediately implement validity.
“Once you see a certificates from Eigenda, I consider that it signifies that the info is out there,” he instructed BlockWorks.
That belief mannequin doesn’t have the chain enforcement right this moment.
“If the DA claims that the info is out there and that the info is unavailable, there isn’t any request,” Kannan stated.
So, is “L2” simply advertising and marketing alongside Ethereum? Or ought to it replicate the power of the protocol to implement each accuracy and availability?
L2Beat’s present stance is that Ethereum must reject the roots of its poor state and be capable to independently confirm knowledge availability. Different issues require extra belief, whether or not it is a Dacoolam, the Governance Council, or a set of permitted challengers.
The most effective ones, both state verification or DA bridge, stay within the “Different” class. Nonetheless, because the approach matures, some individuals could graduate to “barium and optimum” and even purchase rollup standing. To do that, there’s a want for a sturdy fallback mechanism and a approach to flip DA failure into an “objectively attributed defect.” It is a tough downside to crack.
