The Importance of Connectedness in the Ethereum Network
Ethereum co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, recently emphasized the significance of connectedness in the blockchain network. He highlighted two dimensions of connectedness: the security of withdrawing to Ethereum and the security of reading Ethereum. Buterin observed that Layer 2 projects are becoming more diverse, which raises questions about the tradeoffs involved in different applications.
Dimension 1: Security of Withdrawing to Ethereum
Connectedness is crucial for certain projects that prioritize high security and tight integration. The evaluation of this dimension involves assessing the level of security provided and the accessibility of that security to different users or use cases.
Dimension 2: Secure Reading of Data from Ethereum
The second dimension focuses on a chain’s ability to securely read data from the Ethereum blockchain. This includes factors such as access speed to Ethereum’s blocks, emphasis on finalized blocks versus all blocks, and the chain’s commitment to addressing exceptional scenarios like attacks and hard forks.
Rapid Expansion in the Ethereum Layer 2 Ecosystem
In the past year, the Ethereum Layer 2 ecosystem has experienced significant growth with the introduction of EVM rollup solutions like Kakarot and Taiko, which enhance network security.
Hot Take: Continued Growth for Ethereum
Ethereum has seen a recent price increase of 6.86% in the last month, reaching $1,796 at the time of writing. As connectedness remains a key focus for the network’s development, we can expect further advancements in security and scalability for Ethereum.