Originally published on: December 07, 2024
The Ethereum layer-2 (L2) ecosystem is booming, but centralization remains a looming issue. Elena Sinelnikova, co-founder of Metis L2, believes that decentralized sequencers are crucial for maximizing resilience and resistance to censorship in layer-2 scaling solutions.
Sinelnikova highlighted the risk of centralization in most layer-2 networks, where a single sequencer controls transactions without users’ awareness. She emphasized the importance of adopting decentralized sequencers to ensure a more secure and robust system.
While the Ethereum Foundation has proposed promoting decentralization through enhanced L2 interoperability, Sinelnikova argues that decentralized sequencers offer a simpler solution. With the number of layer-2 scaling solutions expected to rise in 2025, the Ethereum ecosystem is evolving rapidly.
In a recent development, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin revealed plans to increase throughput to 100,000 transactions per second as part of “The Surge” roadmap. This initiative aims to boost interoperability between Ethereum’s base layer and layer-2 networks, driving increased transaction data and revenue on the platform.
According to L2Beat data, Ethereum L2s saw a significant increase in total value locked in November 2024, reaching $51.5 billion with 205% year-over-year growth. Leading projects like Arbitrum One and Base contributed to this growth, showcasing the potential of Ethereum’s layer-2 ecosystem.
As Ethereum continues to evolve, the importance of decentralized sequencers in layer-2 networks cannot be overstated. With ongoing developments and growing adoption, decentralized solutions are key to ensuring the scalability and security of Ethereum’s ecosystem in the years to come.