Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has criticized the proliferation of new Layer 2 (L2) networks that replicate existing designs, arguing they impede Ethereum's progress. In a recent post, Buterin highlighted that many L2s are launched out of comfort rather than necessity, leading to superficial Ethereum compatibility without substantial innovation. He emphasized that the trend of creating generic EVM chains with optimistic bridges is stalling meaningful advancements. Buterin urged developers to pursue genuinely new architectures instead of lightly modified replicas, noting that Ethereum's base layer is already scaling and will continue to expand EVM block space through 2026. He also pointed out that some applications, like AI-related workloads, may require specialized environments. Buterin stressed the importance of aligning public positioning with technical reality, advocating for models that either deeply integrate with Ethereum or transparently operate as independent systems.