Gushiken Yona
Vitalik Buterin dismantled the 2020 Ethereum scaling рlaybook this week. The co-founder declared the rollup-centric roadmap obsolеte on social media. He demanded that Layer-2 (L2) networks abandon the “copy-paste” model in favor of genuine technical novelty. Ecosystems must now justify their existence beyond simple transaction speed. Shiba Inu’s Shibarium network faces a market that prizes architectural honesty and unique utility over generic scaling.
Buterin issued two strategic missives on X between February 3 and February 5. He argued that rapid L1 scaling has rendered generic L2s redundant. He characterized the model of creating another EVM chain with a multisig bridge as “lazy infrastructure.” The definition of scaling no longer includes chains that function as mere branded shards without unique technical properties. Developers must identify specific value-adds. Buterin listed privacy-focused VMs, app-specific efficiency, and ultra-low latency as examples of viable differentiation.
The End of ‘Copypasta’ Infrastructure
Projects must now align their marketing with their technical reality. Buterin stated that “vibes need to match substance.” He argued that L2s claiming to scale Ethereum must provide fully secured blockspace backed by the mainnet. Chains that prioritize regulatory control or alternative settlement methods must admit they function as separate networks.
Industry leaders validated the pivot immediately. Ryan Sean Adams of Bankless agreed with the assessment that L2s differ from Ethereum. Mert Mumtaz of Helius thanked Buterin for publicly acknowledging the issue. Concordium, a privacy-focused blockchain project, supported the call for differentiation.
“Honestly, Vitalik’s not saying anything crazy here,” Concordium posted. “We don’t really need more copy-paste chains. What actually moves things forward is building something new, like privacy infra.”
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Shibarium Foresight and the Shib Alpha Layer
Buterin’s revised roadmap describes technical standards that align closely with Shibarium’s evolution, including innovations like Shib Alpha Layer (beta lаunched in June 2025) and ongoing FHE privacy efforts.
Shiba Inu OG developer Kaal Dhairya clarified the network’s structure last January by eschewing the rollup label in favor of transparency.
“Shibarium is a sidechain built on Ethereum—unlike many L2 solutions that can be expensive to settle and often rely on centralized operators. Sidechаins operate their own validators and checkpoints/milestones while leveraging Ethereum’s security via periodic anchoring, the OG developer explained. In my view, this structure is more secure than optimistic rollups, which impose a seven-day challenge period for withdrawals.,” Dhairya added last February.
Shiba Inu also anticipated the demand for app-specific efficiency through the Shib Alpha Layer. This “Super Layer” functions as a specialized environment for “RollApps.” Shib Alpha Layer (beta launched in June 2025, with testnet advancements through 2025 and mainnet elements progressing into 2026). Built with ElderLabs and settled on Shibarium, it serves as a modular rollup abstraction stack that unifies multiple RollApps (L3s) into a single ultra-fast layer.
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Key features include:
- Single-chain UX, this means no juggling bridges or fragmented wallets.
- Near-instant finality and sky-high TPS for Web2-snappy performance.
- Multi-gas token support (e.g., pay with $TREAT or others).
- FHE-ready privacy toggles for encrypted smart-contract logic.
- Plug-and-play ShibOS services and upcoming instant bridging.
The ecosystem’s pivot toward Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), teased as early as 2024 and advancing toward native integration this year via partnership with cryptography firm Zama, addresses Buterin’s specific call for “non-EVM specialized features/VMs around privacy.” Dhairya has confirmed integration efforts to enable confidential on-chain experiences. Generic EVM copies cannot offer this specific utility.
A New Standard for Due Diligence
Buterin’s comments raise the bar for every project building on top of Ethereum. Chains can no longer rely on low fees alone to attract liquidity. L1 scaling in 2026 erodes that cost advantage. Networks must now compete on features that the mainnet cannot provide.
Shibarium’s focus on encryption, digital identity, and the Shib Alpha Layer aligns with the “specialized featurеs” category highlighted by Buterin. Dhairya positions the network as a distinct utility layer rather than a generic scaling solution. Privacy and architectural honesty now serve as the explicit benchmarks for relevance. Shiba Inu meets these standards because it built them into the foundation before the rest of the industry realized they were necessary.
YONA GUSHIKEN
Yona brings a decade of experience covering gaming, tech, and blockchain news. As one of the few women in crypto journalism, her mission is to demystify complex technical subjects for a wider audience. Her work blends professional insight with engaging narratives, aiming to educate and entertain.
