A 100x Scaling Plan Could Save Ethereum From the Fate of Myspace and Blackberry

Ethereum could face big problems if it doesn’t grow fast enough. One researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, Dankrad Feist, has suggested a bold plan to help Ethereum scale. Let’s see what it is.

If Ethereum’s activity spreads too much across various Layer-2 solutions, blockchains built on top of Ethereum, it could weaken Ethereum’s position and cause it to lose value to other ecosystems. Without major changes, Feist warns that Ethereum could end up like a background player while other blockchains take the lead in the next 5 to 10 years.

Recently, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson expressed concerns that Ethereum could suffer the same fate as Myspace or Blackberry, losing relevance and market share despite a strong initial position. He attributes this weakness to “parasitic” Layer-2s that drain value from the main Ethereum chain.

However, in a more optimistic view, Matt Hougan from Bitwise points out that at least Ethereum has “stopped digging” itself deeper into trouble. But the question of whether it can recover and climb out of the hole remains a pressing issue.