The Ethereum L2 Summer Has Arrived

It’s the summer of 2023 and crypto is heating up. Can you feel the electricity in the air? It's the Ethereum’s L2 summer.

This is an exciting time for the Ethereum community as we move beyond the issues of high gas fees and slow transactions that have been plaguing the network. With the launch of many Layer 2 (L2) solutions, end-users and developers can now experience faster, cheaper, and more scalable transactions to the Ethereum network.

What’s more, Vitalik recently published a paper entitled, The Three Transitions. In it he calls out L2 networks as the critical infrastructure required to transition Ethereum into the mainstream for mass adoption.

Let's review some L2 basics, why they matter for scalability, and how you can make the most of this exciting moment. Welcome to the Ethereum L2 Summer at Infura.

What are L2 networks for Ethereum?

L2 solutions scale the number of transactions on Ethereum, while keeping gas fees low, and security high. There are two types of L2 networks: Optimistic and Zero-knowledge (ZK).

Optimistic rollups are scaling solutions where transactions are validated by a third-party operator, which allows for faster and cheaper transactions. This is done by grouping the transactions off-chain, and then later submitting them as a single transaction to the Ethereum network. This approach helps Ethereum to scale with minimal changes to the network.

ZK-rollups, on the other hand, use a process called zero-knowledge proofs, which enables the verification of transactions without revealing specific information. This solution also allows Ethereum to scale without changing the existing network and provides greater privacy to users.

Why are L2 networks important for Ethereum scalability?

L2s are essential for the growth and scalability of Ethereum and web3 at large. For blockchain developers, L2s provide faster and cheaper transactions, allowing for the creation of more complex and innovative applications. The reduction of gas fees also provides a more accessible platform for developers to experiment and innovate.

For end-users, L2s provide a better experience when using dApps. Transactions are faster, and gas fees are significantly lower, providing a more accessible and enjoyable experience. This will attract more users to Web3, thereby growing the ecosystem. Below is a list of popular L2 blockchains.

How Infura supports L2 dev teams and end-users

As a leading cloud-based infrastructure provider for web3, Infura is committed to providing support for L2 development teams and end-users.

By using Infura, developers can access the most popular L2 networks easily through RPC-endpoints, allowing them to read and write to their heart's content. Infura is known for its reliability and scalability, allowing developers to stay focused on shipping products to keep up with the fast-paced world of web3 development.

L2 Summer is an exciting time for us at Infura, as it provides a path to solving the problems of high gas fees and slow transactions.

Optimistic rollups and Zero-knowledge rollups offer scalable and secure solutions for Ethereum, which in turn enables the creation of more complex and innovative dapps.

As a leading provider of web3 infrastructure, Infura is committed to supporting L2 development teams and end-users, and we are excited to see the impact that L2 Summer will have on the web3 ecosystem. Check out all Infura’s supported L2 networks here.

Celebrate the Ethereum L2 Summer

Whether you're a developer, investor, or end-user, there's never been a better time to participate in the growth and scalability of web3. We hope that L2 Summer has inspired you to join us in shaping the future of web3, and we look forward to seeing the impact that Layer-2 solutions will have on the Ethereum ecosystem.

Projects like Linea, Optimism, Base, Arbitrum, and many more have already launched, providing faster, cheaper, and more scalable transactions to the Ethereum network. We encourage you to participate in their ecosystems and engage with them on social media to stay updated on latest developments.

Thank you for choosing Infura and the web3 community. We can't wait to see what the future holds!