Vitalik Buterin Unveils New Plan to Improve Ethereum Layer 2

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has introduced a new roadmap to improve the security, speed, and reliability of Layer 2 (L2) solutions. The proposal focuses on enhancing scalability while staying true to Ethereum’s core values like decentralization and trustlessness.

A key feature of the roadmap is a “2-of-3” proof model that uses three types of provers—optimistic, zero-knowledge (ZK), and trusted execution environments (TEE). A transaction is considered final when any two of these agree, lowering the chance of bugs or vulnerabilities from depending on just one system. This approach offers a smart mix of performance, reliability, and decentralization.

Buterin stressed the importance of variety among proof systems, especially as ZK technologies grow. He warned that many ZK rollups share code, which means one bug could affect many systems at once. With the multi-proof model, finality could be reached almost as fast as ZK proofs—currently under an hour—while staying protected from major bugs.

The roadmap also introduces “Stage 2 rollups,” a more advanced form of rollup technology. These rollups promise almost instant confirmation, strong finality, and strong protection—even in environments where trust is only partial. At the same time, they still follow Ethereum’s 30-day upgrade delay, which helps the network stay stable when new features are added.

Outside the technical side, Buterin is calling for a cultural shift in how development is funded in the crypto space. In a separate blog post, he argued that the term “public goods” has become too politically and socially charged, often favoring popularity over real impact. Instead, he proposes a move toward “open-source funding,” which centers on transparency, real-world value, and shared progress.

Buterin pointed out that public goods funding is easily influenced by social bias. This can reward those who are better at managing community optics rather than those who create meaningful tools or improvements. By focusing on open-source funding, the Ethereum community could better support projects that genuinely benefit the broader ecosystem.

He clarified that this doesn’t mean supporting every open-source project without question. The goal should be to fund those that offer the greatest value for people and the technology as a whole. This idea reflects Buterin’s larger vision of a decentralized, sustainable, and community-focused Ethereum.

Together, these proposals aim to guide Ethereum into its next phase—both technically and culturally. The updated roadmap is built to make Layer 2 networks faster, safer, and more reliable, while the funding strategy aims to make sure the ecosystem supports builders who deliver true progress. These efforts underline Ethereum’s long-term goals: strong decentralization, a secure infrastructure, and meaningful innovation for the public good.