New research from blockchain explorer platform Blockscout reveals that Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) networks are consolidating around dominant technological ecosystems rather than working toward universal standards.
In a recent interview with Decrypt, Blockscout’s head of product Ulyana Skladchikova and head of research Kirill Fedoseev noted that while overall transaction volume is increasing, networks are forming technical “clusters” around major players.
“We see chains kind of get together around some big players and establish interoperability within those groups of chains,”
Skladchikova explained.
According to real-time data from Rollup.wtf cited by Blockscout, the OP stack—a collection of open-source standards primarily used on the Optimism network and its “Superchains”—has emerged as the leading technological framework in the L2 sector, with most networks adopting its tools.
The Blockscout executives cautioned that this trend could potentially complicate user experience, as proprietary interoperability solutions may create friction when transferring funds across networks.
Notably, in October 2024, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin emphasized the need for better interoperability between L2 networks to foster a unified Ethereum ecosystem, ensuring that it feels like “one ecosystem, not 34 different blockchains.”
Buterin also stressed the importance of scaling Ethereum’s base layer (L1) to support growing demand. He warned that even if L2 solutions succeed in scaling, limitations at the L1 level could still create bottlenecks.
However, the executives emphasized that this consolidation implies a trend toward standardized interoperability. They claim that these patterns of consolidation show that L2s are fine-tuning specific capabilities to work across various chains instead of trying to serve as universal scaling solutions.
Meanwhile, this shift comes as Ethereum developers work to enhance the blockchain’s infrastructure for L2 efficiency and scalability. The upcoming Pectra upgrade is expected to introduce dynamic blob fees to optimize transactions and improve L2 scaling. This update aims to allow Ethereum’s consensus layer to dynamically adjust gas targets—addressing a key bottleneck in L2 network expansion.
RELATED: Ethereum Launches New Testnet “Hoodi” to Wrap Up Pectra Testing
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