Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin Indicates New Ways to Solve L1/L2 Fees Issues

As a seasoned crypto investor with a decade of experience under my belt, I’ve seen the rollercoaster ride that is the Ethereum (ETH) ecosystem. Vitalik Buterin’s recent comments about balancing fees for Layer-1 and Layer-2 solutions on Ethereum have piqued my interest.


Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum (ETH), suggests that a fair and consistent pricing structure for both Layer-1 and Layer-2 services on the Ethereum network is essential for the ecosystem’s stability. Implementing various fee distribution methods could shield Ethereum users from an unpredictable economic system characterized by drastic fluctuation in tax rates.

Vitalik Buterin indicates “valuable places to start” as L1/L2 fees debate is heating up again

As a crypto investor, I believe that for everyone within the Ethereum (ETH) community to feel content, it’s crucial that mechanisms are implemented when transaction fees on both Layer 1 and Layer 2 remain consistently non-zero and exhibit low volatility in their ratio. Vitalik Buterin highlighted today, October 12, 2024, that addressing this issue involves economic, technical, and cultural aspects within the Ethereum network.

I believe there’s an issue with the current system having too much fluctuation: A year ago, it was primarily L1 extracting rent from L2, but now the roles have reversed. We aim to prevent a chaotic economy where tax rates drastically change based on weather conditions. If we can create a system…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) October 11, 2024

In response to Trenton Van Epps, a long-standing member and caretaker of the Ethereum Foundation’s Protocol Guild community, Buterin made this statement.

A year ago, critics within the cryptocurrency community accused Ethereum (ETH) of charging rent from Layer 2 networks, a notion that its creator acknowledged. However, the discourse has since shifted, with the focus now leaning more towards the positive aspects of Ethereum’s Layer 1.

Users should primarily focus on the volatile fluctuations in overall transaction fees, irrespective of how the fees are distributed between Layer 1 and Layer 2 validators. The inconsistency in fee direction is what they need to be aware of most.

Let’s strive for a harmonious environment where Ethereum community members feel united as one team. This unified front encompasses three key aspects: a technical compatibility segment, a culture and value-based component, and an economic sector as well.

Initially, Buterin proposed two potential approaches – EIP-7762 and rollups that are based on something else. Additionally, other fee-sharing methods could potentially serve as good starting points too.

Ethereum (ETH) fees finally surging

Presented on August 31, 2024, EIP-7762 modifies the pricing system for blobs, as initially proposed by highly anticipated EIP-4844. This change aims to make blob fees more consistent and handle “price discovery” incidents more effectively.

Rollups, on the other hand, belong to the category of Ethereum’s Layer 2 solutions, yet their economic rules are synchronized with the underlying Layer 1 networks.

Recently, Ethereum (ETH) transaction fees have spiked once more following a three-month period of decrease. According to BitInfoCharts, the average ETH fee has nearly tripled within the past 30 days, while the median transaction fee has increased by over 400% to reach $2.25.

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2024-10-12 15:37