Crypto Fund CIO Labels Ethereum L2 Solutions As ‘Dangerous’ – Here’s Why

As a seasoned analyst with years of experience in the volatile and intriguing world of cryptocurrencies, I find myself often reflecting on the nuances of various projects within this burgeoning industry. In the case of Ethereum L2 solutions, my perspective is shaped by a deep understanding of the importance of decentralization and security in any blockchain endeavor.


Justin Bons, founder and lead investor of Cyber Capital – a European cryptocurrency fund, has yet again voiced his concerns about Ethereum L2 solutions. In a recent post on platform X, published on Saturday, Bons described these blockchain platforms, designed to enhance the scalability of the Ethereum network, as potentially risky, capable of unmonitored withdrawal of users’ funds.

Ethereum L2 Centralized Design Poses A Problem?

Justin Bons contends that many prominent Ethereum L2 solutions tend to be centralized, with individual servers frequently managing the platform’s operations. The Chief Investment Officer of Cyber Capital argues that this centralized structure contradicts the ethos of cypherpunk ideals regarding decentralization and security. He asserts that such a design could potentially harm investors because these chains might fail suddenly due to a single incident or even be manipulated to pilfer users’ assets.

To support his assertions, Bons referred to the pause in block production initiated by Consensys’ zkEVM Roll-up network Linea on June 2nd, 2024, as a result of discovering a bug within the network’s smart contract system.

The acclaimed crypto researcher also highlighted when the Optimism chain underwent a 2-hour downtime on February 15th, 2024, due to a bug in the network’s centralized sequencer. In addition to these examples, Justin Bons’ report also included similar incidents with other Ethereum L2 solutions such as Starknet, ZkSync, Arbitrum, and Polygon, all of which can be traced to the centralized nature of these projects.

The founder of Cyber Capital strongly disagrees with these L2 solutions, arguing they don’t provide the same degree of security and reliability as the primary Ethereum network. Moreover, he expresses worry over the possibility that a negative event like the loss of user funds might occur, even though it hasn’t happened yet, because this potential threat is quite alarming.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed a fascinating perspective put forth by Bons, suggesting that Ethereum has developed a symbiotic bond with L2s (Layer 2 scaling solutions). It seems these platforms have grown to operate almost autonomously from the main network, exerting considerable influence over factors like liquidity and elements vital to the Ethereum ecosystem, such as transaction speed and cost.

Ethereum Poised For Further Price Decline

In a recent analysis, well-known crypto expert Ali Martinez proposes that Ethereum might continue to trend downward in the near future. Notably, this significant altcoin struggled in August, dropping 22.36% of its worth. Using the MVRV momentum (180-day) indicator, which compares the market value to realized value ratio over a 180-day period, Ethereum still seems excessively valued. As such, it seems that the downtrend has not yet reached a turning point.

Currently, the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange stands at approximately $2,500, experiencing a minor decrease of 0.99% in the past day. Simultaneously, its daily trading volume has dropped significantly by 55.75%, now worth around $6.85 billion.

Crypto Fund CIO Labels Ethereum L2 Solutions As ‘Dangerous’ – Here’s Why

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2024-09-01 13:11