Tensions within the Ethereum community have escalated within the community over the first months of 2026, with concerns over scaling, security, and AI priorities increasing. The community believes that the network is not being successful in this stage due to years of previous upgrades aimed at improving user experience and reducing costs. However, co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who argued that layer-2 (L2) networks are drifting away from the core model of the network, suggesting they may not be delivering the kind of scaling the scaling the network was meant to achieve. He also warned that many of these networks are becoming more complex and less secure than the current model of Ethereum. The consensus on this issue is that the path forward requires a balance between the base layer's structural upgrades and specialized rollups that can grow the ecosystem without breaking its foundational security. The move towards AI and smart AI could lead to consolidation among the layer 2 networks, according to 21shares.