Ethereum Foundation’s “Reset” Strategy: Alt Layer 1s and the Future of Ethereum L2s

Ethereum Foundation’s “Reset” Strategy and New Direction

In a recent interview, Tomasz Stanczak, co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation, outlined a bold new direction for Ethereum and its ecosystem. According to Stanczak, all alternative Layer 1s, including Solana, should transition into Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) solutions. This statement is a part of the Ethereum Foundation’s larger vision, which aims to redefine Ethereum’s future, focusing on scalability, interoperability, and security at an unprecedented scale.

The Ethereum Foundation’s shift marks a departure from the previous “ivory-tower” era, with Stanczak emphasizing that the Foundation’s new approach will be far more inclusive and integrated with the broader blockchain ecosystem. Stanczak believes that Ethereum’s L2 ecosystem, powered by rollups and scalable solutions, will be key to achieving this vision.

Aiming for $1 Trillion in On-Chain Security

A central part of the Ethereum Foundation’s reset is its bold goal of achieving “$1 trillion in security.” According to Stanczak, the aim is either for one smart contract to securely store $1 trillion, or for one billion users to store $1,000 each on-chain. Every development decision made within the Ethereum ecosystem will now be directed towards achieving this monumental security milestone.

This security focus is not just about Ethereum’s network; it is about ensuring the safety and reliability of the entire decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. With Ethereum’s move toward scaling and L2 technologies, this goal seems more attainable than ever before, as it can accommodate far more assets and users while maintaining its robust security architecture.

The Role of Layer 2s: Not Freeloaders, But Key Players

In Ethereum’s new vision, Layer 2 solutions (L2s) are not merely “freeloaders” using Ethereum’s security for their operations, as some have perceived. Stanczak emphasized that Layer 2s are a critical part of Ethereum’s moat—an essential protective feature that will make Ethereum both scalable and secure.

Ethereum Foundation will begin by celebrating rollups—Ethereum’s most prominent Layer 2 solution—before working on fee-sharing structures down the line. Scaling the network is the immediate priority, and once Ethereum achieves its desired throughput and scalability, the foundation will shift its focus to the long-term value accrual of ETH.

This prioritization of scalability and security is a sign of Ethereum’s commitment to becoming the backbone of decentralized applications across the globe.