Brink critiques rollups as limited scaling solutions for Ethereum

Adrian Brink, co-founder of Anoma and Namada, has voiced scepticism about rollups, often seen as key scaling solutions for Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH).

He argues that rollups mainly replicate the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) without offering significant new functionality.

Brink contends that rollups are essentially execution-sharding solutions rather than true scaling methods.

He proposes that Plasma, which allows constant data posting to the main chain regardless of user throughput, is the "only true scaling solution."

Brink points out that while rollups have gained popularity since Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin introduced the concept, they fall short in addressing the core issues of data and state scaling.

According to Brink, rollups "copy the EVM" and do not bring forward new use cases or significant innovations.

He acknowledges the cryptographic advancements in zero-knowledge (zk) rollups but criticises the resulting fragmentation of state and liquidity, which he believes limits both user and developer experience.

Brink argues that the widespread acceptance of rollups is misguided.

He suggests that rollups do not represent fundamentally new approaches and instead focus on marginal improvements.

He asserts that rollups create a fragmented landscape with multiple EVM versions, each with its own decentralised exchange (DEX), leading to inefficiencies and a less cohesive ecosystem.

To Brink, this approach does not solve the scalability challenges but rather adds complexity.

Brink predicts that Plasma will gain more recognition as a viable scaling solution in the future.

He believes that the blockchain industry should focus on developing new scalability architectures that introduce fresh functionality and use cases.

According to Brink, creating new developer environments that support innovative applications is essential for advancing blockchain technology beyond current models and enhancing user experiences, aligning more closely with the usability standards seen in Web2.

At the time of reporting, the Ethereum price was $2,455.83.