OP will move towards Layer 2 (L2) in the second phase, following Vitalik's decentralized Layer 2 roadmap.
OP Labs stated that they are focusing on achieving the second stage of decentralization. They have established the first security council, aligning with Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin's vision for L2 decentralization. The security council will be granted shared oversight and management upgrade authority in 2024.
In fact, L2 still faces criticism for centralization issues. Recently, ChainFeeds founder Pan Zhixiong mentioned again that many people have not noticed that certain L2 leaders lack basic fraud proofs and do not pay attention to whether PoS is truly secure.
On 12/22, OP Labs provided an explanation of its decentralization progress and outlined the next steps.
不利于团结的话就不要再讲了。
刚看到某项目：Solana+DEPIN+空投预期+推荐奖励+落地场景+挖矿，简直 BUFF 叠满了。哪怕这些东西老韭菜们都见过了，不重要，他们的意见也不重要，狗才给这些老项目接盘。但没人关心这个项目是不是真的可以实现想达到的效果。
就像以太坊的…— Zhixiong Pan (@nake13) December 21, 2023
Table of Contents
Vitalik Proposes L2 Standards and Second Stage Requirements
OP Labs stated that Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined a roadmap on how to achieve the "second stage" of decentralization on the Ethereum Magicians forum, which holds significant implications for those seeking decentralized L2 solutions. Note: Prior to the second stage, it was a phase akin to having training wheels.
Vitalik emphasized the standards for achieving the second stage of decentralization, highlighting the need for a trustless fault-tolerant system, multiple independent proof mechanisms, and specific requirements for a "security council." This framework sets a high bar for L2 solutions, aiming to establish a robust, secure, and truly decentralized ecosystem.
Why Advance L2 to the Second Stage
OP Labs noted that unlike the potential centralization control in the first stage, the second stage ensures no single party can unilaterally alter the network state. This level of decentralization not only enhances trustlessness but also ensures user sovereignty, crucial for the interoperability and user protection of the Superchain.
Note: The concept of Superchain refers to various blockchain networks built on the OP Stack, including shared bridges, decentralized governance, upgrades, communication layers, etc.
Why Did OP Take So Long to Reach the First Stage?
OP Labs explained that they adopted a unique "breadth-first" strategy, unlike the traditional "depth-first" approach to decentralization.
- "Breadth-first": Aimed at building a powerful, rapidly growing multi-defense network.
- "Depth-first": Utilizing single-fault proofs first and then researching how to create multi-proof fault systems to achieve a second-stage state.
This strategy enhances the resilience of the ecosystem and promotes open collaboration, setting new standards for blockchain development.
How OP Enters the Second Stage?
Bedrock and OP Stack Integration with ZK
OP Labs emphasized the importance of Bedrock upgrades and OP Stack design. Their modular design can integrate various proof mechanisms, including ZK technology, ensuring long-term adaptability of the system. This strategic design positions the entire ecosystem for accelerated growth and innovation.
Community-Driven Security Council
OP Labs stated that the first security council has been established, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and community involvement. Comprising independent entities, this council plays a vital role in managing protocol upgrades and ensuring system security, following principles of transparency, community, and security.
Protocol upgrade multi-signatures will be maintained by at least 8 independent individuals, with a signature threshold of 75% or higher. In the fall of 2023, the first security council for the Optimism ecosystem began its rollout, composed of individuals outside the foundation. By December 2023, the initial 14 members of the Optimism ecosystem security council were approved through governance voting, and another governance vote on whether to share upgrade keys with the Security Council during the temporary "Phase 0" was also passed.
Call for Universal Adoption of the Second Stage
OP Labs calls for the advancement to the second stage of decentralization not just as an OP initiative but as a common goal for all L2 solutions.
In the first stage, Optimism governance approved a security council of 14 individuals to oversee the security of the Superchain. A key goal for 2024 is to have this security council manage ecosystem upgrade keys under Optimism governance guidance and independently from the Optimism Foundation.