The Ethereum Foundation has redefined the roles of L1 and L2 in a new ecosystem vision for 2026.
TLDR
Ethereum L1 remains the main settlement and DeFi hub as it scaled by several orders of magnitude.
L2s must now prioritize diversity and customization over size as their primary objective.
The Ethereum Foundation urges all L2s to meet at least Level 1 security requirements.
Blobs are only 30% complete, L2 offers to expand the capacity of the EF class as the demand of the ecosystem grows.
The Ethereum Foundation has published a post detailing how the L1 and L2 chains are related. Written by Josh Rudolph, Julian Ma, and Josh Stark on March 23, 2026, the post updates a model that hasn't changed in five years.
It addresses scalability, security standards and chain fragmentation across the wider Ethereum ecosystem.
L1 takes the role as the main settlement layer
Ethereum L1 is described as a central hub for settlement, shared territory, liquidity and DeFi. The foundation notes that there is no blockchain comparable to today's adoption, decentralization and resilience. L1 is expected to scale by several orders of magnitude while maintaining its core values.
ZK technology has grown faster than originally expected, opening new avenues of measurement. This development has been driven by contributions from many groups across the ecosystem. The Foundation is committed to advancing L1 without compromising security or decentralization.
Blobs, L2s key data delivery method, are currently only around 30% full. EF said it feels comfortable expanding the blob capacity further as demand grows. This headroom gives room for L2s to grow without encountering immediate bottlenecks.
The post also outlines plans to improve liquidity access on L1. Faster processing, deposits and withdrawals are all part of the roadmap. These changes aim to make L1 a more accessible foundation for the entire ecosystem.
L2s should shift to diversity and security.
The Foundation's L2 objectives have changed considerably. In the past, calibration was the main goal of L2s. Today, the emphasis is on unique features, customization and controlled execution environments.
L2s are now encouraged to achieve at least Level 1 security standards. This means that even if operators or security councils act maliciously, users must safely exit to L1. The foundation called passing this “sidewalk” test.
Beyond Level 1, L2s seeking deeper L1 integration are encouraged to pursue Level 2, Synchronic Integration and Native Integration. Native closures allow L2s to completely remove their security councils. This makes their security fully guaranteed by L1.
The post also encourages L2s to explore tools such as the Open Concept Framework and the Rapid Validation Framework. These are designed to improve inter-chain interoperability and access to capital. Groups are encouraged to contribute to concurrent processing work streams already underway.
Demolition remains a priority problem to solve
The foundation acknowledges that fragmentation is the number one bane of the multichain ecosystem. As users and developers move through the chain, they experience UX and platform inconsistencies. Addressing this is listed as a key priority going forward.
EF plans to work with chains, wallets and infrastructure providers on better communication solutions. The goal is to streamline both the user experience and developer platform fragmentation. A clearer L1 and L2 relationship is expected to reduce the diversity of narratives around Ethereum.
Clarity from L2 groups is emphasized throughout the post. L2s are required to clearly communicate their personal security features to users. The foundation highlighted L2Beat's role in monitoring and verifying these assets.
The Platform team, led by Josh Rudolph, serves as a continuous interface between the L2 teams and the core protocol roadmap.
This team is dedicated to improving the Ethereum platform as a whole. Regular collaboration with L2 teams to ensure protocol priorities reflect real ecosystem needs.
