Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shifted his stance on scaling solutions, asserting that layer-2s should not be the primary method for enhancing Ethereum's capacity. In a post on X, Buterin stated that the current landscape of layer-2s 'no longer makes sense,' citing failures in decentralization and improvements in the Ethereum mainnet's scalability through gas limit increases and native rollups. He emphasized the need for a new path, arguing that many layer-2s have not lived up to their intended role in Ethereum's scaling strategy. Traditionally, layer-2 solutions were designed to handle a majority of transactions quickly and cost-effectively while leveraging Ethereum’s security. However, Buterin pointed out that the connection between these solutions and the mainnet is often inadequate, stating, 'If you create a 10000 TPS EVM where its connection to L1 is mediated by a multisig bridge, then you are not scaling Ethereum.' He suggested that layer-2s, including Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and Starknet, should refocus on specific niches like privacy, identity, finance, social apps, and AI. Buterin's comments reflect a broader discussion among Ethereum developers about prioritizing the scaling of the mainnet. Support for this shift is echoed by figures like Ryan Sean Adams from the Bankless show, who called it 'the pivot.' Buterin also highlighted the potential of precompiled native rollups in scaling the Ethereum mainnet, especially with the integration of zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) proofs. Native rollups, unlike traditional rollups that operate off-chain, are embedded within Ethereum, allowing for direct transaction verification by Ethereum validators. Furthermore, discussions among developers have included raising the gas limit on the Ethereum mainnet, which would enhance transaction capacity and potentially reduce fees. Meanwhile, Ethereum researcher Justin Drake's long-term plan aims for 10,000 transactions per second on the mainnet. This shift in strategy is pivotal for Ethereum's future as it navigates the evolving landscape of blockchain scalability.