Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has expressed his support for Soneium, a new Layer-2 (L2) scaling solution for Ethereum, praising it as a user-centric protocol. Buterin’s comments come amid the controversy surrounding the launch of Soneium, a protocol backed by Sony Group, which has faced backlash over allegations of censorship.
Vitalik Buterin’s Take on Soneium
Buterin believes that the recent launch of Soneium serves as an example of how blockchain technologies, particularly Ethereum-based L2 solutions, can be tailored to suit business needs. While the platform has faced criticism for its on-chain rules, Buterin emphasized that these protocols are fully auditable and transparent, offering users clear insight into the rules they are agreeing to.
“Whatever the rules enshrined on-chain are, that is the rule,” Buterin explained, highlighting blockchain’s ability to provide accountability. He pointed out that businesses using blockchain can make highly specific decisions about the level of control they want to impose on their systems. Buterin also noted that even in cases where platforms implement closed systems, users would be fully informed of the terms before engaging with the platform.
Soneium’s Ethereum Layer-2 Strategy
Soneium went live on the Ethereum mainnet this week, drawing attention for its unique approach to transaction speed and restriction policies. The platform, while introducing significant improvements in transaction speed, has drawn criticism for censoring certain tokens, including memecoins, shortly after its launch.
However, Buterin defended the protocol, stating that while Soneium does limit certain transactions, it hasn’t necessarily engaged in censorship. Instead, he described the system as one that can “throttle” certain activities but remains transparent about these restrictions. “The blockchain world is a free market at play,” Buterin concluded, urging the industry to remain vigilant about ensuring open environments for financial activities.
Ethereum L2 Dominance War
Soneium’s launch comes as competition in the Ethereum Layer-2 space intensifies. Established players like Coinbase-backed Base and Arbitrum continue to lead the Ethereum L2 ecosystem in terms of transaction volume and Total Value Locked (TVL). In response, new protocols, including Kraken’s recently launched Ink scaling solution, are entering the scene, further fueling the L2 arms race.
Base, which has been gaining traction in the Ethereum space, recently announced plans to tokenize COIN on its network this year, signaling a push to increase its dominance in the growing Ethereum ecosystem.
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