Vitalik Buterin Unveils Ethereum Layer 2 Interoperability Roadmap

Author: Oliver Dale Source: Blockonomi Translation: Shan Ou Ba, Golden Finance

Abstract

• Vitalik Buterin outlined a plan for cross-chain interoperability between Ethereum Layer 2 networks

• The plan includes multiple Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) aimed at enhancing cross-L2 compatibility

• Major proposals include EIP-3370 for a new address standard, EIP-7683 for cross-L2 communication, and EIP-3668 for off-chain data access

• Buterin predicts that all rollups will eventually adopt zero-knowledge technology, but this transition may take more than 5 years

• VanEck Predicts Ethereum L2 Scaling Network to Reach $1 Trillion Market Cap in Six Years

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has laid out a comprehensive plan to solve one of the most pressing challenges in the cryptocurrency ecosystem: cross-chain interoperability between Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) networks.

In a series of posts on social media platform X, Buterin outlined his vision for a seamless user experience across the “Ethereum world” and highlighted several key proposals and technological advances that could make that vision a reality.

The roadmap shared by Buterin focuses on a set of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) aimed at enhancing cross-L2 compatibility. One of the main proposals is EIP-3370, which introduces a new address standard.

The standard requires wallets and decentralized applications (dApps) to display addresses of specific chains using human-friendly prefixes, which significantly simplifies the user interface and reduces the possibility of errors when interacting with different L2 networks.

Another key component of the initiative is EIP-7683, which aims to establish a standard communication protocol for different Ethereum L2 networks. The proposal addresses the current inefficiencies and complexities that users face when trying to trade assets across different chains. By implementing a unified set of rules, EIP-7683 could simplify inter-chain transactions, making it easier and more efficient for users to transfer assets between various L2 solutions.

Also on the agenda is EIP-3668, which proposes a standardized way for Ethereum smart contracts to access off-chain data. Buterin calls it a "Layer 2 light client" and explains that it will make it easier and more cost-effective for developers to build data-hungry applications without incurring high on-chain storage costs.

In addition to these proposals, Buterin also discussed the concept of "replayable account state updates across L2s," which he previously elaborated on in a blog post in 2023. This approach allows L2 networks to receive the latest Layer 1 (L1) state updates while maintaining security and low latency, further enhancing interoperability between different layers of the Ethereum ecosystem.

Looking ahead, Buterin mentioned several updates in Phase 2 to further improve cross-chain L2 compatibility, including keystore rollups and proof aggregation. He emphasized that the initial “Phase 1” updates are not related to the details of rollup technology, suggesting broader applicability across different L2 solutions.

Regarding the future of existing zero-knowledge (zk) and optimistic rollups, Buterin predicts that all rollups will eventually transition to zk technology so that one Ethereum transaction is completed per time slot. However, he estimates that this transition will take more than five years to fully materialize.

The Ethereum co-founder is optimistic about solving the cross-L2 interoperability problem, a view shared by some in the investment community.

Earlier this year, investment manager VanEck predicted that the Ethereum L2 scaling network could reach a market cap of $1 trillion within six years, highlighting the huge potential of Buterin's vision of cross-chain interoperability.

However, Buterin has also recently expressed concerns about overly complex Layer 2 scaling solutions, highlighting the potential risks posed by complex L2 networks.

He called for a more balanced approach in the development of the blockchain ecosystem, in line with the general view in the blockchain community that Layer 1 networks should prioritize simplicity to minimize the risk of critical bugs and attack vectors.