Written by: Haotian
This is a very meaningful perspective, and it seems to be the most positive interpretation of Ethereum layer2 that I’ve seen in a long time: the true value of layer2s is as an “experimental innovation sandbox.”
For example, @arbitrum can explore DAO governance, @Optimism can implement the RetroPGF funding mechanism, @base can experiment with CEX integration, and @zksync can advance account abstraction. If these innovations were implemented directly on the mainnet, the risks would be too great, but even if they fail on layer2, it won’t jeopardize the entire ecosystem.
What’s also interesting is that different layer2s seem to serve completely different user groups. For instance, enterprise chains focused on compliance, privacy chains emphasizing censorship resistance, and gaming chains capable of high-frequency transactions, among others.
Looking back, there are indeed quite a few layer2+layer3 solutions built on various Stack foundations. Although none have become the savior channeling traffic and liquidity to Ethereum as expected, they have made significant contributions in terms of the “diversity” of experimental scalability solutions.
Of course, people might say that ultimately all of them are just aiming to issue Tokens, but there is an underlying logic: at least to some extent, they continue and inherit Ethereum’s decentralized security features.
Otherwise, with current star products like @HyperliquidX and some Wall Street Giant enterprises planning to build independent, dedicated layer1 chains, although they can achieve a seamless upgrade in user experience, they essentially sacrifice decentralization for extreme performance. These independent chains are also highly likely to issue Tokens. What they are doing may not be fundamentally different from layer2s, or even inferior, but this approach is a complete denial of the experimental nature of layer2s.
Therefore, there is actually a very clear path ahead for layer2: abandon the all-encompassing approach of General-Purpose chains and explore Specific-Chains tailored to the new demands of Mass Adoption. For example, how to introduce well-known gaming IPs, how to meet privacy and compliance needs for transactions, how to serve the high-frequency interaction requirements of AI Agents, and how to provide compliant on-chain channels for RWA assets, among others.
In other words, as long as Layer2s give up the internal competition over pure technical architecture, abandon the obsession with being a universal chain, and focus on business integration with TradFi, the outlook for layer2 may not be as pessimistic as people think.
