Expert Steven Pu's perspective on the impact of rollup L2 on trust within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. He explains how these technologies threaten decentralization.
Maintaining Decentralization in Cryptocurrencies
Pu states that the uniqueness of cryptocurrencies lies in their trustless nature, supported by a decentralized structure. To be truly trustless, decisions must be made by large and diverse groups of nodes with minimal connectivity. Decentralization relies on three pillars: inclusion, ordering, and execution. Any break in these principles can result in the loss of 'trustlessness'.
Issues with Optimistic and ZK-Rollups
There are two types of rollup L2: optimistic and zero-knowledge (ZK). Both types are characterized by decisions being made by a single sequencer. Some attempts to ensure correctness are made, but the impact on decentralization raises significant concerns. Optimistic rollups have a one-week challenge period that introduces risks of capital loss and reduced trust. ZK-rollups ensure execution correctness through specific proofs, but this does not solve the issue of centralized decision-making.
The Future of Ethereum Scaling
Pu argues that if L2s are truly decentralized, they effectively turn into L1s. He emphasizes that Ethereum does not have to be slow and expensive. Modern consensus mechanisms can help improve network functionality. He suggests focusing on scaling Ethereum itself rather than relying on rollup L2 to maintain neutrality and restore user confidence.
From Steven Pu's perspective, the integration of rollup L2 threatens the foundations of decentralization in cryptocurrency. He believes that the ecosystem should seek to scale through improving existing technologies rather than relying on solutions that could introduce centralized risks.
