Tensions Rise in Ethereum Community as Developers Accuse Foundation of Neglecting Layer-2 Builders
October 21, 2025 – New York
Fresh tensions have surfaced within the Ethereum ecosystem, as prominent developers voiced frustration over what they describe as the Ethereum Foundation’s lack of support for key scaling partners — particularly Polygon and other layer-2 (L2) teams that have played crucial roles in expanding Ethereum’s reach.
Polygon’s Sandeep Nailwal Says Ethereum Foundation “Offers No Direct Support”
Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal ignited the discussion on X (formerly Twitter), saying that despite Polygon’s long-standing efforts to scale Ethereum, the Ethereum Foundation (EF) has provided “no direct support” to his team.
He suggested that Polygon’s contributions — including advancements in zero-knowledge (ZK) technology and its suite of networks like Katana and XLayer — are often dismissed by Ethereum’s core community, which he described as “insular.”
“Polygon is still deeply tied to Ethereum,” Nailwal said. “But the community treats our progress as if it’s separate from Ethereum’s own success.”
Nailwal added that if Polygon were to position itself as a standalone layer-1 blockchain, rather than maintaining its close connection to Ethereum, its market value could be two to five times higher.
His remarks underscore a growing divide within Ethereum’s ecosystem — between the Foundation’s internal priorities and the broader set of independent teams that have built layer-2 networks to enhance scalability, lower transaction costs, and improve user experience.
Sonic Labs’ Andre Cronje Joins the Criticism
Andre Cronje, co-founder of Sonic Labs and a leading figure in the DeFi space, echoed Nailwal’s frustration.
In his post, Cronje revealed that he had “burned over 700 ETH” — equivalent to several million dollars — developing on Ethereum, without receiving any grants, funding, or even social acknowledgment from the Foundation.
“Not even a retweet,” Cronje said bluntly.
He contrasted this with what he described as the preferential treatment newer projects under the Sonic ecosystem have received, which often benefit from technical and financial backing.
His comments added weight to the perception that Ethereum’s core leadership prioritizes internal initiatives or select projects, rather than maintaining open, consistent support for all builders contributing to the network.
Vitalik Buterin Responds: “Gratitude and Respect for Polygon’s Work”
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin responded to the debate, taking a conciliatory tone and thanking Nailwal and the Polygon team for their long-term contributions.
Buterin praised Polygon’s early research and development in zero-knowledge proofs, particularly its work on the AggLayer framework, which aims to integrate multiple ZK-powered chains with Ethereum’s mainnet.
He also acknowledged Nailwal’s broader contributions beyond the blockchain world — including CryptoRelief, which provided pandemic aid, and the Balvi biotech program, which funds open-source medical research.
“Your impact has gone far beyond crypto,” Buterin said. “And your work on ZK tech has helped make Ethereum stronger.”
Buterin suggested that recent advances in ZK proving systems could make it easier for Polygon to tightly integrate with Ethereum’s main chain, potentially offering stronger security and interoperability guarantees — hinting at a future path for collaboration.
A Broader Debate About Ethereum’s Direction
The exchange has reignited long-simmering questions about how the Ethereum Foundation allocates resources, especially as the ecosystem grows more complex.
Ethereum now depends heavily on a network of layer-2s — including Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and others — to handle high transaction volume and deliver faster, cheaper user experiences. Yet, several developers have expressed concern that EF’s recognition and financial support have not kept pace with the contributions of these external teams.
Analysts note that Ethereum’s decentralized development model — where the Foundation, independent researchers, and for-profit projects all operate semi-independently — has always been a strength, but also a potential source of friction.
“Ethereum thrives on open collaboration, but it also struggles with coordination,” said blockchain researcher Lena Zhang. “When builders feel undervalued, it raises questions about how the ecosystem defines success — and who gets credit for it.”
What’s Next for Ethereum’s Layer-2 Landscape
Despite the public disagreement, Buterin’s comments suggest the Ethereum Foundation still views Polygon and others as key partners in the broader effort to scale the network securely and efficiently.
Polygon continues to expand aggressively, focusing on zero-knowledge rollups, modular scaling, and cross-chain liquidity, while Sonic Labs pushes for next-generation rollup architectures that reduce costs and boost throughput.
For now, both developers and the Foundation appear committed to dialogue over division — but the conversation highlights a critical moment in Ethereum’s evolution, as it moves toward the “rollup-centric” future outlined in its scaling roadmap.
As the network prepares for new upgrades and increased competition from rival chains, maintaining harmony between its core developers, independent builders, and ecosystem partners may prove essential to keeping Ethereum at the center of Web3 innovation.
