Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko have introduced conflicting views on the safety of Ethereum’s layer-2 networks.
This has sparked debate throughout the crypto business over whether or not L2 options really inherit strong safety from Ethereum’s base layer.
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Buterin Defends L2 Safety Mannequin
Buterin emphasizes that Ethereum layer-2 options keep robust safety in opposition to 51% assaults. They inherit finality ensures from the bottom layer. In a current submit on X, he said: “A key property of a blockchain is that even a 51% attack cannot make an invalid block valid. This means even 51% of validators colluding (or hit by a software bug) cannot steal your assets.”
Nonetheless, Buterin acknowledged limitations when validator units are trusted past chain-controlled capabilities.
“This property does not carry over if you start trusting your validator set to do other things, that the chain does not have control over,” he added. “At that point, 51% of validators can collude and give a wrong answer, and you don’t have any recourse.”
Common reminder:
A key property of a blockchain is that even a 51% assault *can’t make an invalid block legitimate*. This implies even 51% of validators colluding (or hit by a software program bug) can’t steal your property.
Nonetheless, this property doesn’t carry over if you happen to begin trusting…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) October 26, 2025
Main L2 networks, together with Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, and Worldchain, collectively maintain over $35 billion in locked worth. They depend on Ethereum’s safety structure. The Ethereum validator set presently exceeds a million lively individuals, considerably outnumbering Solana’s roughly 2,000 validators. Proponents argue this bolsters resistance to coordinated assaults.
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Yakovenko Questions L2 Safety Assumptions
Yakovenko immediately challenged Buterin’s assertions.
“The claim that L2s inherit eth security is erroneous. 5 years into the L2 roadmap, wormhole eth on solana has the same worst case risks as eth on base and generates as much revenue for eth L1 stakers,” he said on X(Twitter).
The declare that L2s inherit eth safety is misguided. 5 years into the L2 roadmap, wormhole eth on solana has the identical worst case dangers as eth on base and generates as a lot income for eth L1 stakers. It’s improper irrespective of the way you slice it.
— toly 🇺🇸 (@aeyakovenko) October 26, 2025
The Solana co-founder questioned whether or not technical limitations forestall L2s from attaining desired safety properties.
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“Yes there is something fundamental about L2s that makes it difficult to actually achieve the desired security. That’s why it hasn’t happened in 5 years. Or are you suggesting that all the L2 teams are lazy or dumb?” Yakovenko wrote.
Sure there’s something elementary about L2s that makes it tough to truly obtain the specified safety. That’s why it hasn’t occurred in 5 years. Or are you suggesting that each one the L2 groups are lazy or dumb? https://t.co/eGAQB84NP0
— toly 🇺🇸 (@aeyakovenko) October 26, 2025
He identifies three main issues with present L2 implementations. First, L2 networks expose huge assault surfaces with complicated code bases, which show tough to audit comprehensively. Second, multi-signature custody preparations enable funds to be moved with out person consent. This happens if signers collude or face compromise. Third, off-chain processing mechanisms centralize management, contradicting blockchain’s core decentralization ideas.
Yakovenko has proposed creating a specialised bridge that positions Ethereum as a layer-2 for Solana. This goals to facilitate seamless asset transfers between ecosystems whereas addressing safety issues.
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Proliferation Raises Ecosystem Issues
The Ethereum layer-2 panorama has expanded considerably. L2Beat stories 129 verified networks alongside 29 further unverified ones. This proliferation has generated debate over whether or not it fosters innovation or creates inefficiencies.
CoinGecko information exhibits that within the first half of 2025, Ethereum declined 25.0% whereas Solana dropped 19.1%. Nonetheless, Solana outperformed Ethereum by 26.2% in January earlier than each property confronted broader market strain.
SOL/ETH: CoinGecko
This displays shifting market sentiment. Business observers word that as layer-2 networks evolve, initiatives like information availability sampling and shared sequencing goal to mitigate centralization dangers. The controversy underscores ongoing challenges in balancing safety with scalability.
