TL;DR
- Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon, sparked the debate by stating that Layer 3 (L3) networks are diminishing the value of Ethereum and aiming to strip the main network of its value.
- According to Boiron, if all transactions from L3 were settled on a single Layer 2 (L2), ETH would lose much of its value and its security would be compromised.
- Experts in favor of L3 highlight their ability to host specific decentralized applications.
The debate surrounding the role of Layer 3 (L3) in the Ethereum ecosystem continues to stir controversy in the crypto community. Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon, ignited discussions by claiming that L3 is detracting value from Ethereum and that its existence only seeks to strip the main network of its value.
Boiron argues that if all transactions from L3 were settled on a single Layer 2 (L2), Ethereum would lose much of its value and its security would be compromised. However, his stance drew criticism from many community members. Many argued that L2 is essential for ETH’s operation and holds value in itself.
I’ll say the quiet part out loud: L3s exist only to take value away from Ethereum and onto the L2s on which the L3s are built.
*You do not need L3s to scale*
And this is why Polygon Labs does not work on L3s.
— Marc Boiron (@0xMarcB) March 31, 2024
On the other hand, Boiron asserts that Polygon is not seeking to monopolize value in its own networks, but rather its goal is to scale Ethereum as efficiently as possible. He acknowledges that L3 may have benefits, such as lower costs for native bridging from L2 and specialized state transition functions. However, he insists that its primary function is to preserve Ethereum’s value and prevent it from diluting into secondary layers.
What Will Be the Best Method to Scale Ethereum?
The debate over L3 reflects different perspectives on how to effectively scale Ethereum. Some experts advocate for L3, highlighting its ability to host specific decentralized applications and provide customized solutions for scalability and performance.
On the other hand, some share Boiron’s concern about the risk of diluting Ethereum’s value by decentralizing its operation too much. According to some experts, it is important to strike a balance between innovation and preserving value on the main network.
Ultimately, the debate over L3 serves to bring concerns and opinions of the community to the table. In a decentralized environment, participation is a key factor in ensuring the ecosystem’s evolution and ensuring its long-term vitality.
