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Ethereum scaling solutions have been the focal point for both users and developers in the Ethereum ecosystem. Cofounder of Ethereum Vitalik Buterin recently made an affirming statement about the progress of Ethereum's scaling solutions, specifically rollups. His commendation of one project reaching stage 1 and optimism for others approaching this milestone highlights the strides being made in enhancing Ethereum's capacity.
A rollup is a layer-2 solution that executes transactions outside the Ethereum mainnet (layer 1) but posts transaction data on it. This approach allows the network to handle more transactions per second, mitigating congestion and potentially lowering fees. The classification of these rollups into stages – from 0 to 2 – is crucial for assessing their maturity and functionality.
Stage 1 is a significant achievement for any rollup. It indicates a fully operational proof system, the ability for at least five external participants to submit fraud proofs, permissionless exits for users, and the establishment of a security council. Arbitrum One's achievement of this stage demonstrates its capability to support Ethereum's scalability securely and reliably.
However, Buterin's call to action for 10 stage-1 rollups within the next year, along with some degree of sequencer decentralization, is both ambitious and necessary. Sequencer decentralization would ensure that the ordering of transactions is not controlled by a single party, which is critical for maintaining the trustless and decentralized ethos of blockchain technology.
The drive for stage-1 rollups brings both advantages and challenges. On the upside, a greater number of stage-1 rollups would increase Ethereum's throughput significantly, thereby supporting more users and applications. It could also drive down transaction costs and improve user experience, making Ethereum more competitive in the broader blockchain ecosystem.
On the flip side, the rapid scaling of rollups must not compromise security or decentralization. The complexity of establishing a reliable security council and the rigorous requirements to enable multiple entities to submit fraud proofs are nontrivial.
Alex Dovbnya
