Layer-2 Networks Require Decentralized Sequencers, Says Metis Co-Founder

According to data from L2Beat, the Ethereum layer-2 (L2) ecosystem is growing quickly; as of December 2024, there were 118 layer-2 scaling solutions mentioned. Notwithstanding this expansion, the ecosystem continues to struggle with centralization, which could jeopardize its long-term sustainability.

Co-founder of Metis Elena Sinelnikova suggests using decentralized sequencers to strengthen censorship resistance and anti-fragility on L2 networks. Sinelnikova pointed out in an interview with Cointelegraph that the majority of L2 networks only have one sequencer, which exposes users to centralized control.

“About 97% of all Ethereum transactions occur on layer-2s,” Sinelnikova stated. “These solutions were not originally designed to be decentralized. They rely on centralized sequencers that can be controlled or shut down at any moment.”

Sinelnikova recognized the Ethereum Foundation’s initiatives to improve interoperability among L2 solutions in order to advance decentralization. But she maintained that putting decentralized sequencers into practice provides a simpler and more reliable way to deal with centralization issues.

With notable advancements in 2024, the Ethereum L2 ecosystem is on the rise. November saw three times as many daily transactions on L2 networks as March, which resulted in higher base-layer fees and the end of extended periods of low Ethereum revenue.

Important indicators highlight the ecosystem’s expansion: Total Value Locked (TVL): As of November 2024, Ethereum L2s have $51.5 billion in TVL, a 205% rise from the previous year.
December Surge: At $21.5 billion and $14.2 billion, respectively, Arbitrum One and Base were in the lead as TVL surpassed $60 billion at the beginning of December.
The ambitious “The Surge” vision, developed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, calls for scaling throughput to 100,000 transactions per second (TPS), and this extension fits that goal. The project places a strong emphasis on L2 solution interoperability, which is essential to Ethereum’s scaling objectives.

Throughout 2025, Sinelnikova predicts that Ethereum L2 solutions will continue to rise due to technological developments and the growing popularity of blockchain-based apps and decentralized financing (DeFi). Nonetheless, resolving centralization issues with decentralized sequencers is still essential to maintaining Ethereum’s robustness and encouraging user trust.

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