⚫A new initiative called Ethereum R1 has emerged within the Ethereum ecosystem — a Layer 2 solution focused on scaling without issuing its own token. The project has no venture capital backing, relies solely on donations, and promotes a vision of decentralization, neutrality, and non-centralized governance. The developers criticize most existing Layer 2 solutions as isolated systems that stray from Ethereum’s original goals.
⚫The context for R1’s emergence is the recent Dencun upgrade, which reduced Layer 2 fees and slashed base-layer Ethereum revenues. This has intensified debates over whether modern L2 solutions undermine the interests of the main layer. However, supporters argue that the variety of Layer 2s is not a flaw but rather an evolution of Ethereum’s architecture, offering users more flexible choices.