Yakovenko Questions Ethereum’s L2 Security Assumptions
Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has publicly questioned one of Ethereum’s most common narratives — that Layer-2 (L2) solutions inherently inherit the security of the Layer-1 (L1) Ethereum mainnet.
According to Yakovenko, this assumption is “technically misleading”, as the security of many L2 networks depends not only on Ethereum’s consensus layer but also on their own large, independent codebases.
The Problem of Verification
Yakovenko highlighted that many L2 systems have become so complex and extensive that their codebases are impossible to fully verify for potential bugs or vulnerabilities.
This complexity, he argues, undermines the very principle of “security inheritance” — since a flaw in the L2’s logic or bridge mechanisms could compromise user funds regardless of Ethereum’s underlying security.
Broader Implications for the Blockchain Ecosystem
Yakovenko’s comments reignite the long-running debate between monolithic and modular blockchain architectures.
While Ethereum has focused on modular scaling through L2 rollups, Solana continues to pursue a high-performance, single-layer approach, optimizing for speed and composability within one ecosystem.
His remarks serve as a reminder that blockchain security is not solely dependent on consensus but also on software integrity and operational transparency — aspects that become harder to maintain as systems grow more fragmented.
Industry Reaction
The statement has sparked discussion among developers and analysts. Some agree with Yakovenko’s cautionary stance, while others argue that L2 solutions still offer the best path toward mass adoption without compromising Ethereum’s base security guarantees.
The debate underscores a key challenge in the industry’s evolution: finding the right balance between decentralization, scalability, and verifiable security.
