Michaela
Summary: Why does Vitalik Buterin want Ethereum Layer 2 withdrawals to be faster?
Buterin believes waiting days to withdraw from Layer 2s is too long and hurts user experience. He says quicker withdrawals would reduce reliance on insecure bridging solutions and lower the cost of capital. Faster, trustless exits would help Ethereum Layer 1 remain the core of its economic ecosystem.
Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin has stated that faster withdrawal times should take precedence over full Layer 2 decentralization, calling it essential to keeping Ethereum Layer 1 at the center of the network’s economic activity.
“Fast withdrawal times are important because waiting a week to withdraw is simply far too long for people, and even for intent-based bridging (eg. ERC-7683), the cost of capital becomes too high if the liquidity provider has to wait a week,” Buterin wrote in a post on X. His comments came in response to an update noting that six rollups, Unichain, Scroll, Kinto, Ink, Optimism, and Base, have completed the upgrades required under the revised Stage 1 framework and are now fully compliant.
Extended withdrawal also delays increased reliance on bridging solutions that utilize less secure trust models, such as multisignature wallets and multi-party computation (MPC) systems.
Buterin suggested that bringing native withdrawal times below one hour in the short term, and down to 12 seconds in the medium term, would help solidify Ethereum Layer 1 as the primary hub for asset issuance and the economic core of the broader Ethereum network.
According to Buterin, to achieve faster withdrawal times, Ethereum must shift away from optimistic proof systems, which rely on multi-day waiting periods by design.
The Ethereum co-founder shared that Ethereum’s reliance on optimistic proofs, once necessary due to the cost and complexity of zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, is nearing its end. As ZK tech matures, faster, more secure L2 withdrawals are becoming viable. He points to hybrid models like a “2-of-3” system using ZK, OP, and TEE methods, while noting that high gas fees for large ZK proofs remain a final hurdle.
Ethereum Withdrawal Upgrades Set New L2 Standard
This renewed push for faster withdrawals underscores Ethereum’s broader strategy to enhance scalability and user experience, key factors in driving mainstream adoption. For SHIB holders, the implications are clear. Shibarium, Shiba Inu’s Layer 2 network built on Ethereum, is designed to deliver low-cost, high-speed transactions. As Ethereum establishes new benchmarks for withdrawal efficiency and trustless bridging, Shibarium has a clear opportunity to meet or surpass these standards.
With Ethereum L1 positioning itself as the economic hub of its ecosystem, the performance of L2s like Shibarium becomes even more critical. Quick, secure access to funds without relying on centralized bridge infrastructure will be a major competitive edge. As ZK-based proofs become more practical, solutions like Shibarium can leverage this evolution to enhance user trust, reduce capital inefficiencies, and ensure seamless movement across the broader decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape.
Read More
- Buterin Proposes RISC-V to Boost Ethereum Efficiency
- Crypto Loss Risks: Vitalik Buterin Urges Better Wallet Security
- Ethereum Proposes Unified Fee Market to Simplify Costs — What It Means for Shib
Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
