In a recent controversy, Polygon CEO Marc Boiron ignited a heated discussion within the Ethereum community by arguing against the necessity of layer-3 networks for scaling Ethereum. Boiron’s comments, made on April 1, have stirred differing opinions on the role and significance of these networks within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Boiron asserted that layer-3 networks, while touted for their scaling capabilities, primarily serve to siphon value away from the Ethereum mainnet onto the layer-2 networks they operate on. “L3s exist only to take value away from Ethereum and onto the L2s on which the L3s are built,” he remarked, emphasizing his stance against their adoption.
Despite his firm stance, Boiron faced opposition from some quarters. Responding to a comment asserting that layer-2 networks are integral to Ethereum’s value proposition, Boiron expressed partial agreement, but countered, “I disagree that L2 value is Ethereum value.” He cautioned against the scenario where all layer-3 settlements converge onto a single layer-2, potentially undermining Ethereum’s security.
Boiron reiterated Polygon’s commitment to scaling Ethereum, highlighting their approach of parallelizing the Ethereum Virtual Machine and prioritizing privacy. He argued that layer-3 protocols are incongruent with Polygon’s mission, emphasizing their dedication to sharing value fairly with Ethereum.
Layer-3 protocols, which operate atop layer-2 networks, offer specialized decentralized applications tailored to specific use cases, promising solutions for scalability, performance, interoperability, customization, and cost efficiency. Notable players in the layer-3 ecosystem include Orbs, Xai, zkSync Hyperchains, and the recently launched Degen Chain on Arbitrum Orbit. However, despite the potential, the sector remains relatively nascent, with only a handful of layer-3 tokens listed on major platforms such as CoinGecko.
Boiron’s remarks have reignited the debate surrounding the role of layer-3 networks in Ethereum’s evolution, underscoring the diverse perspectives within the community regarding the optimal path forward for Ethereum’s scalability and ecosystem development.