1. Introduction of a New Standard
2. Criteria for 'Stage 1'
3. Milestones for 'Stage 2'

In a recent X post dated September 12, Vitalik Buterin emphasized that from next year, he will publicly endorse only those L2 networks that meet or exceed his new standards. He stressed that personal investments or friendships will not sway his stance—it’s 'stage 1 or bust.'

Introduction of a New Standard

Buterin outlined his criteria for L2 decentralization as part of a framework he introduced in 2022. It includes a progression through three distinct stages, guiding the evolution of rollup projects from initial deployment to full decentralization.

Criteria for 'Stage 1'

At 'Stage 1,' L2 solutions must implement active fraud-proof or validity-proof schemes and include a multi-signature-based override mechanism, known as a 'security council.' This council must consist of at least six out of eight signatories and be independent of the roll-up organization. Additionally, upgrades must have a seven-day delay to ensure stability and security.

Milestones for 'Stage 2'

The final milestone is 'Stage 2,' where no group has the authority to override the code output if it is bug-free. At this stage, the use of security councils is highly restricted and only allowed for clear bug fixes, with a 30-day upgrade activation delay.

Buterin’s comments highlight a shift away from what he terms 'glorified multisigs' toward a more rigorous standard of cryptographic trust. Many zero-knowledge rollup teams have indicated they aim to reach Stage 1 by the end of the year, and Buterin has expressed excitement about this progress.