Author: Haotian
This is a very meaningful perspective, and it seems to be the most positive interpretation of Ethereum layer 2 that we have seen in a long time: the real value of layer 2s is an "experimental innovation sandbox."
For example, @arbitrum can explore DAO governance, @Optimism can implement the RetroPGF funding mechanism, @base can try CEX integration, @zksync can promote account abstraction, etc. If these innovations are implemented directly on the mainnet, the risks will be too great, but even if they fail on layer2, they will not endanger the entire ecosystem.
What’s interesting is that it seems that different layer2s can serve completely different user groups. For example, there are enterprise chains that focus on compliance, privacy chains that claim to be censorship-resistant, gaming chains that can achieve high-frequency transactions, and so on.
Looking back, there are indeed quite a few layer2+layer3 solutions built on the basis of various stacks. Although none of them has become the expected savior for Ethereum, they have indeed made outstanding contributions in terms of the "diversity" of experimental scalability solutions.
Of course, you can also say that they are all for the purpose of issuing tokens in the end, but there is an underlying logic: they at least continue and inherit the decentralized security features of Ethereum to a certain extent.
Otherwise, using the current star product @HyperliquidX and the independent exclusive chain layer1 thinking that some Wall Street giants want to build, although it can achieve a smooth upgrade in experience, it essentially sacrifices decentralization in exchange for extreme performance. Moreover, these independent chains are also likely to issue tokens. What they do may not be fundamentally different from layer2 or even worse, but this step is a complete negation of the layer2 experimental field.
Therefore, there is actually a very clear path before layer2. Abandoning the big and comprehensive idea of the General-Purpose chain, the right way is to explore how to conduct Sepecific-Chain under the new Mass Adoption demand. For example, how to introduce well-known game IPs, how to meet privacy transactions and compliance, how to serve the high-frequency interaction needs of AI Agents, how to provide a compliant facial channel for RWA assets, etc.
In other words, as long as Layer2s abandons the internal circulation of purely technical architecture, abandons the obsession with the big and comprehensive universal chain, and focuses on the business integration with TradFi, the situation of Layer2 may not be as pessimistic as everyone thinks.
