Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has weighed in on the ongoing debate around the role and structure of Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) solutions, prompted by recent discussions on social media about Soneium, an Ethereum L2 platform. 

Buterin's remarks, shared via Twitter, emphasize the unique benefits and transparent nature of these scaling solutions while addressing concerns about their governance and operational frameworks.

Buterin described Ethereum L2s as versatile tools for both businesses and users, capable of offering varying degrees of control and autonomy. "Launching an Ethereum L2 is great for businesses and users," he wrote, explaining that businesses can tailor the level of control they retain while still providing clear, auditable rules for users.

One of Buterin's key points was the transparency inherent in the Ethereum L2 ecosystem. "Whatever rules they choose, that's what the rules are. Everything is on-chain, transparent, and auditable by third parties," he said.

This transparency allows users to make informed decisions, even in cases where platforms adopt more restrictive models. 

Buterin highlighted that L2s can range from closed systems—where operators maintain significant control over the state root—to open systems that grant users greater freedom. In each scenario, the rules are clearly documented and accessible for scrutiny by independent third parties like L2Beat and the broader online community.

Referencing the Soneium platform, Buterin noted that it represents a middle ground, where users have the ability to act on the L2 but face a "speed bump" in the form of throttling by the sequencer, rather than outright censorship. He characterized this as a demonstration of the free market in action, where users and businesses alike can evaluate and select systems that align with their needs.

Buterin also emphasized the importance of ensuring a healthy balance within the Ethereum ecosystem. He pointed out that maintaining a critical mass of financial activity in fully open environments is essential, as is the development of tools to help users understand the properties and governance of the on-chain environments they interact with.

His comments also address critiques raised by Millie, a prominent commentator in the Ethereum community. Millie had argued that rollups are not independent from Ethereum, likening L2s to cities or states built on top of Ethereum rather than separate entities. 

While Buterin did not directly refute Millie’s analogy, his explanation underscores the inherent flexibility of L2s. Businesses and users can operate within varying governance structures while still benefiting from Ethereum’s core properties of transparency and decentralization.