Vitalik Buterin, the influential co-founder of Ethereum, has just unveiled a fresh roadmap focused on boosting the security and finality of Layer 2 (L2) solutions.

Buterin’s latest plan puts forward a versatile, multi-proof system. This approach is crafted to support Ethereum’s growth in scale while staying true to its foundational ideals of decentralization and minimizing the need for trust.

Ethereum’s New Layer 2 Roadmap

The core of Buterin’s proposed framework revolves around a clever “2-of-3” model. This system ingeniously employs three distinct types of proofs: optimistic, zero-knowledge (ZK), and trusted execution environment (TEE) provers.

Here’s how it works: a transaction reaches its final state when any two of these proof methods reach a consensus. This significantly cuts down on the risks associated with depending on just one type of proof. The model aims for a practical sweet spot between speed, reliability, and keeping things decentralized.

Buterin highlighted how crucial this kind of variety is, especially as zero-knowledge systems become more developed. He cautioned that if ZK rollups share too much code, bugs could spread rapidly through different systems, potentially creating larger risks.

“This means that the finality of rollups can be as fast as zk proving (~<1hr for now) while protecting the system from soundness bugs in the zk system,” Wei Dai, a research partner at 1kxnetwork, explained.

Looking ahead, Buterin’s roadmap also details what he envisions for “Stage 2 rollups.” These are designed to be the next evolution, offering almost instant confirmations, rock-solid finality, and resilience even when things are less than perfectly trustworthy.

Crucially, these advanced rollups would still respect Ethereum’s 30-day upgrade delay. This important rule acts as a safety net, ensuring network stability during any significant changes.

Buterin Makes Case for Open-Source Funding

Switching gears from scaling solutions, Buterin is also championing a change in how the crypto world funds development. He’s calling for a cultural shift when it comes to supporting crucial projects.

In a recent blog post, Buterin proposes we rethink our language, suggesting a move from “public goods funding” to “open-source funding.”

His worry is that the term “public goods” has become tangled up in politics and social agendas. It’s often used in ways where looking good is valued more than actually making a real difference.

“A big part of the reason why the term ‘public good’ is vulnerable to social gaming is precisely the fact that the definition of ‘public good’ is stretched so easily,” Buterin argued

Buterin points out that “public goods” funding can easily fall prey to what he calls “social desirability bias.” This is where funding decisions might favor those skilled in community maneuvering and politics, rather than focusing on projects that truly offer substantial value.

On the other hand, “open-source funding” puts the spotlight on clear processes, teamwork, and creating tools that genuinely benefit everyone in the wider ecosystem.

For Buterin, the aim shouldn’t be to blindly fund every open-source project out there. Instead, he argues for prioritizing support for projects that have the potential to bring the greatest good to humanity.

This viewpoint is in line with his larger vision for a blockchain world that’s built for the long haul, driven by community, and based on solid foundations.

Taken together, Buterin’s proposals have the potential to reshape both the technological path of Ethereum’s scaling efforts and the core philosophy behind its funding models. Ultimately, these moves reinforce the network’s enduring dedication to decentralization, robust security, and serving the public good.