Vitalik Buterin says that L2s using Celestia are not actual exploits.

Vitalik Buterin, founder of Ethereum, sparked a discussion about how different Layer 2 encryption solutions are classified, not exactly blockchain authentication solutions.

In the year On January 16, Buterin agreed with the opinion posted on X (Twitter) by Daniel Wang, the founder of the Ethereum package solution Tyco, who said that if the Ethereum package uses another data chain for data availability – such as the module blockchain Celestia – then Ethereum is legitimate.

“That's right,” answered Buterin. “The essence of being a bundler is an unconditional guarantee of safety: you can withdraw your assets even if everyone is shorting you.”

“If data availability is dependent on an external system, you won't be able to get that,” he added.

This is correct.

The main thing about being bundled is the unconditional security guarantee: you can withdraw your assets even if everyone else is shorting you. If the DA is dependent on an external system, that cannot be achieved.

But being acceptable is the right choice for many applications, and…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 16, 2024

Validium is an Ethereum mining solution that relies on the security and authentication of the Ethereum mainnet to enable off-chain transactions using zero-knowledge authentication.

Unlike ZK-rollups, which split transactions on a layer 2 network and verify them on layer 1 like Ethereum, validium networks do not post the transaction data to L1. Instead, the configuration aims to achieve higher scalability since the entire transaction data does not need to be stored on-chain, and post cryptographic proofs that transactions are valid.

However, legitimate authentications rely on operators to post authentications in good faith, and data availability may be reduced compared to bundles.

Networks like Celestia use a modular blockchain made up of data availability layers and authentication layers – the latter of which uses validiums to enable fast and private transactions.

In a Jan. 16 post on the decentralized social media platform Warpcast, Buterin suggested tweaking some of the terms, such as “security-mediated” and “balance-favoring,” to “strong” and “light.” Being “shorter”.

Related: Polygon co-founder proposes zkEVM ‘validium' upgrade to improve security

Not everyone, including Ethereum community member Ryan Berkmans, disagreed with Buterin's proposal.

“A layer-2 is a chain that sits on top of Ethereum,” he said. “I will die on this hill, and I will challenge anyone who insists on the DA. [data availability] It must be on Ethereum to be L2.

“This is a new industry, we can say ‘L2' whatever we want,” he continued. “A maximally useful L2 definition includes both package and acceptability.”

Yes, but they are acceptable L2s.

This is a new industry, we can define “L2” as whatever we want.

The most useful definition of L2 includes both package and acceptability.

That's why L2Beat lists the right ones today.

L2 = pack or active https://t.co/WwtkAV2sAE

— Ryan Berckmans ryanb.eth (@ryanberckmans) January 16, 2024

Contrary to Berkmans claim, Layer 2 industry analysis platform L2Beat argues that validuims are not L2s.

“Validiums and Optimiums are not L2: by not publishing information on L1, they introduce additional belief assumptions on top of it.”

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