Solana Labs co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has suggested that Ethereum could become a layer-2 solution for the Solana blockchain, stating that the integration is “probably more likely than you might think.” In a series of tweets, Yakovenko explored how this technical collaboration could work, addressing the scalability issues faced by Ethereum and the potential benefits for Solana.
As a layer-2 solution, Ethereum would serve as a bridge protocol, providing finality guarantees for holders of SOL assets on the Ethereum blockchain to safely exit back to Solana. This would require submitting all Ethereum transactions into Solana and establishing a Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) root as evidence of consensus among Ethereum validators.
Yakovenko also acknowledged the limitations and risks associated with this integration. While it would be safe to hold SOL assets on Ethereum, lending or maintaining positions against them would carry risks. If Ethereum experienced a fault or contentious social consensus fork, the representations of Solana assets on Ethereum could become separated from the consensus fork, rendering them worthless.
Furthermore, the integration could impact various DeFi protocols, potentially leading to limitations or challenges in liquidity provision and trading.
Yakovenko’s proposal coincided with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin expressing solidarity with Solana against regulatory crackdowns. Buterin emphasized that Ethereum’s success should not come at the expense of other blockchains, highlighting the shared struggle against regulatory pressures in the crypto industry.
While the integration of Ethereum as a layer-2 for Solana presents opportunities for scalability and interoperability, it also raises important considerations regarding safety, risks, and the potential impact on decentralized finance protocols.
