Ethereum's "ultrasound money" thesis is facing renewed scrutiny as critics argue that the shift to Layer 2 networks has diluted its value capture. Former Ethereum supporter Xaif Crypto highlighted concerns that Layer 2 solutions are absorbing much of the activity and fee value, challenging the network's economic model. Critics suggest that while Ethereum's mainnet focuses on settlement, Layer 2 platforms are capturing congestion fees and MEV-related activity, potentially weakening ETH's direct value proposition. Meanwhile, the XRP community has reignited debates over Ethereum's regulatory treatment compared to Ripple. BankXRP questioned why Ethereum avoided the SEC scrutiny that Ripple faced, despite Ethereum's early token sale and development history. This discussion coincides with Ethereum's ongoing efforts to emphasize decentralization, as highlighted by Vitalik Buterin's recent comments on the Ethereum Foundation's role. The debate centers on whether Ethereum's adoption still translates into direct ETH value, especially as stablecoins dominate trading and tokenized markets. Supporters argue that Ethereum's strengths in settlement, security, and decentralization remain intact, but critics remain focused on the implications of reduced mainnet fees on ETH's long-term value story.