Vitalik: The new EVM chain should be innovative and genuinely rely on Ethereum, avoiding blind replication

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin stated that currently, a large number of newly created EVM chains are simply replicating existing architectures or connecting to Ethereum through optimistic bridges with a one-week delay. This approach is akin to the governance replication seen in Compound; while it is "comfortable," it depletes innovation in the long run, leading the ecosystem into a dead end.

If a new chain does not connect to Ethereum's optimistic bridge (i.e., purely a substitute L1), the situation is even worse. What the ecosystem truly needs are projects that can bring new features, such as privacy protection, application-specific efficiency, or ultra-low latency. The form of "Ethereum connection" must match the actual functionality.

For example, prediction market applications can issue and settle markets on L1, manage user accounts, but transaction execution occurs in a Rollup or L2-like system, with L1 verifying signatures and market states. A deeply connected L1 architecture should be prioritized, rather than a formal bridge for recognition.

Another type of "application chain" can verify algorithm execution on government, social media, or gaming platforms, ensuring updates are authorized and executed according to pre-committed rules through technologies like STARK. Although these chains are not entirely Ethereum, they can provide algorithmic transparency and minimize trust, facilitating economic activities that were previously impossible.

New projects should achieve two points: first, truly bring innovation, not just replicate existing EVM chains; second, ensure that the public relations image matches actual functionality. The project's claimed level of connection to Ethereum should genuinely reflect its technical and ecological dependencies, ensuring ecosystem interoperability and long-term value.