Opinion: The real value of L2s is an "experimental innovation sandbox"
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Opinion: The real value of L2s is an "experimental innovation sandbox"
Abandoning the all-encompassing approach of General-Purpose chains, exploring Specific-Chains tailored to全新的 Mass Adoption demands is the right path forward.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: Haotian
A highly meaningful perspective—this seems to be one of the most positive interpretations of Ethereum layer2s we've seen in a long time: the true value of layer2s lies in being an "experimental innovation sandbox."
For example, @arbitrum can explore DAO governance, @Optimism can experiment with RetroPGF funding mechanisms, @base can try CEX integrations, and @zksync can advance account abstraction. Implementing such innovations directly on the mainnet would carry too much risk, but even if they fail on a layer2, the broader ecosystem remains unharmed.
Interestingly, different layer2s may serve entirely distinct user segments—compliance-focused enterprise chains, censorship-resistant privacy chains, high-frequency trading gaming chains, and so on.
Looking back, there have actually been numerous layer2+layer3 solutions built atop various stacks. While none have become the anticipated saviors channeling traffic and vitality into Ethereum, they have certainly made remarkable contributions in exploring the diversity of scalability approaches.
Of course, one might argue they're all ultimately aiming to launch tokens. But there's an underlying logic: they at least partially preserve and inherit Ethereum’s decentralized security properties.
Otherwise, adopting the current mindset of standalone layer1s—exemplified by star products like @HyperliquidX or exclusive chains being built by Wall Street giants—may deliver seamless user experiences, but fundamentally trades decentralization for peak performance. These independent chains will likely issue tokens too, and what they offer may not differ significantly from layer2s—or may even be inferior. Yet this approach completely dismisses the experimental value of layer2s.
Therefore, layer2s actually face a clear path forward: abandon the grand, general-purpose chain paradigm, and instead focus on building specific-purpose chains tailored to new mass adoption demands. For instance, how to onboard major gaming IPs, meet privacy and compliance needs, support high-frequency interactions for AI agents, or provide compliant pathways for RWA tokenization.
In short, as long as layer2s move beyond technical self-competition and let go of the obsession with being all-encompassing general-purpose chains, shifting focus toward integration with TradFi use cases, the outlook for layer2s may not be as bleak as many assume.
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Haotian | CryptoInsight
