According to L2BEAT, big changes are coming to how we think about layer 2 (L2) projects, the group of projects that use Ethereum’s blockchain to handle more activity. Right now, the category has over 120 L2 projects and holds more than $50 billion in total value locked (TVL).
For years, L2s were mainly judged on how close they were to becoming fully decentralized. However, as L2s have grown, the security risks have become more apparent.
Many projects lack proof systems and rely on centralized setups and this means that user funds are vulnerable. To address these issues, L2BEAT is rolling out a new framework to separate truly secure L2s from weaker alternatives.
According to L2BEAT, these updates are expected to improve user security and transparency.
L2BEAT is proposing three big changes
According to L2BEAT, three big changes are coming to the ecosystem.
The first will be the “Others” category. Projects without proper proof systems or sufficient data availability (DA) guarantees will now be classified under the new “Others” category. This group includes chains like Polygon PoS and certain OP Stack rollups that fail to meet the updated standards. Previously, these projects were considered L2s, but their setups often rely on centralized control or weak DA committees.
Chains will also have to set up mandatory proof systems. A secure rollup is nothing without the right proof system, as that will allow permissionless exits and protect user funds even if permissioned actors become unavailable.
L2BEAT now requires all rollups (a specific type of L2) to have these proof systems. Without one, they simply won’t be considered a proper rollup anymore. There are projects like StarkNet that already use proof systems to verify every state transition on Ethereum.
Alt-DA L2s (like validiums and optimiums) must also meet stricter requirements for data availability guarantees. This includes having decentralized DA committees or proper DA attestation bridges. Many existing projects depend on small, centralized committees or external networks without proper guarantees, creating potential risks for users.
L2BEAT said that projects have six months to make the necessary improvements to meet these new standards. So, by the middle of 2025, it expects them to have added proof systems and improved data security or face reclassification.
There’s also an offer on grounds where L2BEAT will work with these teams to help them through the process.
Community support is key
Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, is fully on board with these stricter rules for L2 projects. Starting in 2025, he’ll only publicly support projects that meet the higher security standards (classified as Stage 1 or higher). This is a clear message to developers that security and decentralization need to be top priorities.
“The era of rollups being glorified multisigs is coming to an end. The era of cryptographic trust is upon us,” said Buterin.
The Ethereum community itself also plays a huge role in all of this. It starts making the space safer for everyone when it begins to only actively support projects that meet the new standards and raises questions about those that don’t.
According to L2BEAT, it is not slowing down either. Instead, it will double its efforts to monitor and review proof systems in 2025. This means that it won’t just be looking to see if a project has a proof system but also checking how good and reliable those systems are. Initiatives like the ZK Catalog will help it do this more thoroughly.
All of this ties into Ethereum’s bigger vision of a world of decentralized and secure L2s. It all starts by holding projects accountable and raising the bar for security so people can truly trust the technology they use
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