Vitalik and Solana co-founder engage in a heated debate: Can Ethereum L2 really inherit L1 security?

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko recently engaged in a heated debate over the security of Ethereum's Layer-2 (L2) network. Buterin insists that L2 inherits the finality guarantees of Layer-1, effectively preventing 51% attacks from making invalid blocks valid. However, Yakovenko directly challenged this assertion, arguing that L2 solutions face centralized risks of multisignature custody, insufficient code audits, and centralized control over off-chain processing. Currently, the number of Ethereum L2 networks has surged to 129, and although the locked-up value exceeds $35 billion, the rapid increase has raised concerns about liquidity fragmentation and reduced transaction revenue for Ethereum's base layer.

The Cornerstone of Ethereum L2 Security: Vitalik Defends Layer-1 Inheritance

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin firmly believes that Ethereum Layer-2 solutions are designed with strong security that can effectively resist malicious network attacks. His core argument is that L2 inherits the finality guarantee of the underlying layer (Layer-1).

The invalidity of 51% attacks

Vitalik Buterin emphasized a key feature of blockchain: “Even if 51% of validators conspire (or are affected by software errors), it cannot make an invalid block valid.” This means that attackers cannot steal user assets, as the state and transactions of L2 must ultimately be verified and finalized by the Ethereum mainnet.

Trust Boundary: Vitalik Buterin acknowledged that this security guarantee does not apply to a validator set trust that is beyond the control of the chain. If users begin to trust the validator set for “other things” that cannot be controlled on-chain, then a collusion of 51% of validators may provide incorrect answers, leaving users “with no way to act.”

Currently, the total Lock-up Position value of major L2 networks such as Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, and Worldchain has exceeded 35 billion USD, all of which rely on Ethereum's security architecture. The number of Ethereum validators exceeds 1 million, far surpassing the approximately 2,000 of Solana, and supporters believe this further enhances the ability to resist coordinated attacks.

Solana Co-founders Question: L2 Difficult to Achieve Ideal Security Properties

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko directly challenged Vitalik Buterin's viewpoint, asserting that “the claim that L2 inherits Ethereum's security is incorrect.”

The three major security pain points of L2

Yakovenko questioned, if L2 can really easily achieve the ideal security attributes, “why has it not been realized after five years?” He hinted at fundamental technical difficulties. He pointed out the three main concerns in the current L2 implementation:

1. Codebase Complexity: L2 networks have complex codebases that expose a huge attack surface, making comprehensive auditing difficult.
2. Multisignature custody risk: Multisignature custody arrangements allow for the transfer of funds without user consent in the event that signers collude or are compromised, posing a centralization risk.
3. Centralized off-chain processing: The off-chain processing mechanism of L2 centralizes control, which goes against the core principle of decentralization in blockchain.

Yakovenko even proposed to develop a dedicated bridge to position Ethereum as a Layer-2 for Solana, facilitating seamless asset transfers between ecosystems while addressing security issues.

Concerns about the Ecosystem Brought by the Explosive Growth of L2

The L2 ecosystem is expanding at an unprecedented rate. The L2Beat report shows that there are currently 129 verified L2 networks and an additional 29 unverified networks. This explosive growth has sparked a debate within the community about whether it fosters innovation or leads to inefficiencies.

The data reflects changes in market sentiment, with Solana performing better than Ethereum at the beginning of the year, although both faced market pressure subsequently. Industry observers note that with the development of L2 networks, measures such as data availability sampling and shared sequencers aim to mitigate centralization risks. This debate highlights the long-term challenge of achieving a balance between security and scalability.

Conclusion

The heated debate between Vitalik Buterin and Yakovenko strikes at the core of Ethereum's scalability strategy—the security assumptions of L2. Despite the enormous value locked up in L2 and its reliance on Ethereum's large validator set, potential risks such as centralized control, multisignature custody, and code audits cannot be overlooked. The explosive growth of L2 networks has, on one hand, driven the prosperity of the ecosystem, while on the other hand, it has led to the fragmentation of liquidity. For investors, understanding the security model and potential vulnerabilities of L2 is crucial, and this debate will continue to shape the direction of the next generation of blockchain architecture.

Disclaimer: This article is news information and does not constitute any investment advice. The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, and investors should make cautious decisions.