TL;DR
- Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin publicly praised Celo’s decision to pivot from an independent Layer 1 to an Ethereum Layer 2 model, highlighting the value of “leaning into” Ethereum’s security and decentralization.
- He urged projects to simplify their L2 design to just a sequencer and a prover, offloading data availability, censorship resistance, and fraud proofs to Ethereum’s base layer for maximum trust minimization and performance.
- Celo has already slashed block times to one second and halved its inflation, while integrating Ethereum’s developer tools, enabling fast, low-fee transactions and seamless cross-chain dApp deployments.
When Vitalik Buterin speaks, the industry listens. This July, Ethereum’s co-founder broke his usual radio silence to applaud alternative Layer 1 chains embracing Ethereum Layer 2 designs, and he singled out Celo as a prime example. In a succinct post on X, Vitalik Buterin argued that projects should “lean into the L1’s offerings” instead of reinventing core blockchain mechanics. His endorsement of Celo’s pivot marks a watershed moment, signaling that even independent chains can benefit from Ethereum’s security and decentralization.
The best way to build an L2 is to lean into the L1's offerings (security, censorship resistance, proofs, data avail…) more, and reduce your logic to just being a sequencer and a prover (if based, just a prover) over the core execution.
This is the combination of trust… https://t.co/YLsDth3oZz
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) July 15, 2025
Simplifying Layer 2: Sequencer and Prover at the Core
At the heart of Vitalik Buterin’s message lies a radical simplification: reduce L2 logic to two essential components, a sequencer and a prover. By offloading data availability, censorship resistance, and fraud proofs to Ethereum’s base layer, developers sidestep duplication and focus on performance. “Reduce your logic to just being a sequencer and a prover,” he wrote, noting that this lean model achieves the trust-minimization early enterprise blockchains once sought but never realized.
Celo’s Transformation in Action
Celo’s recent architectural overhaul embodies this blueprint. Once an independent L1 with five-second block times and high inflation, Celo has slashed block confirmations to one second and cut its inflation rate in half. Under the new L2 framework, Celo transactions inherit Ethereum’s battle-tested security while retaining fast finality and low fees. Integration with Ethereum’s developer tools has already begun, making it easier for Solidity-friendly dApps to migrate or deploy cross-chain.
Charting a Collaborative Blockchain Future
Vitalik Buterin’s support for Celo underscores a broader industry shift: interoperable ecosystems built on a unified security foundation. As more chains look into L2 changes, the distinction between “Ethereum ecosystem” and “forked network” becomes less clear. For users, this promises seamless asset transfers and shared liquidity. For developers, it opens the door to modular innovation without sacrificing decentralization.
Looking ahead, Buterin’s vision of “partially stateless nodes” and streamlined L2s could redefine how we conceive blockchain layers, transforming silos into symphonies of cryptographic trust. With Celo leading the charge, the next chapter of decentralized finance may very well be written on Ethereum’s robust base layer.
