Ethereum layer-2s go beyond just scalability – they serve as a unifying force for various “subcultures” that contribute to the growth of the Ethereum ecosystem, according to Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum.
In a recent blog post on his personal blog, Buterin discussed the advantages of layer-2 blockchains beyond technical innovation, emphasizing their role as breeding grounds for crypto subcultures.
These subcultures include traditional “cypherpunks” who focus on building infrastructure and tools without getting involved in their usage. On the other hand, the philanthropic “regens” are dedicated to providing public goods to the community. Additionally, there are the speculation-driven “degens” who aim to profit from trending memecoins and nonfungible tokens.
Buterin explained that these subcultures, identified by Ethereum researcher Prof. Paul Dylan-Ennis, have led to different approaches to scaling, virtual machine design, and application choices. Layer 2s have become the ultimate platform for action and experimentation, according to Buterin.
However, Buterin cautioned that blockchain developers need to consider that the decisions they make to attract one audience may inadvertently exclude others. It may be challenging for these protocols to attract non-mercenary core developers and researchers, he added.
Buterin believes in the concept of “cultural pluralism” to balance the various subcultures on Ethereum layer-2s, ultimately benefiting the entire ecosystem. This approach allows different subcultures to focus on core development or expanding the edges of the ecosystem.
Buterin highlighted some cultural specialties that have emerged on Ethereum’s layer-2s, such as more women taking up leadership roles at Optimism and ZKSync’s commitment to being both cypherpunk and user-friendly.
While Buterin acknowledges that clashes between these subcultures may occur due to “incentive misalignments,” he is confident that they can be resolved over time. He sees Ethereum as an ongoing experiment and appreciates the ecosystem’s willingness to tackle challenging problems.
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