Layer-2 blockchain networks are coalescing around dominant technology stacks rather than working toward universal standards, according to new research from blockchain explorer Blockscout. This trend suggests a significant shift in how scaling solutions are developing as Ethereum's Pectra upgrade approaches.

In an interview with Decrypt, Blockscout executives revealed a growing technical "clustering" phenomenon despite overall transaction growth across the ecosystem. "We see chains kind of get together around some big players and establish interop within those groups of chains," said Ulyana Skladchikova, head of product at Blockscout.

The OP stack has emerged as a dominant player in the Layer-2 sector, with most networks adopting its tooling, according to real-time data from Rollup.wtf cited by Blockscout. This open-source standard is used primarily on the Optimism network and its "Superchains."

This consolidation trend presents a potential challenge for bridge abstraction—the process of simplifying asset movement between different chains. Instead of contributing to universal standards, major Layer-2 players are developing proprietary interoperability solutions. "There will be chain clusters around every large ecosystem player," Kirill Fedoseev, head of research at Blockscout, told Decrypt.

The research data reveals a paradox in the Layer-2 ecosystem. While transaction volumes on networks like Base have increased nearly threefold to 80 million monthly transactions, native bridging between Layer-1 and Layer-2 has declined by approximately 80% since early 2024, according to Blockscout's internal research.

Monthly active users per Layer-2 chain spiked 250% in autumn 2024, reaching over 14,000 before stabilizing around 11,000. Blockscout noted in a research document that this pattern signals sustained adoption rather than temporary interest driven by airdrops or speculation. "Early hype doesn't always translate into sustained use," the document stated. "When users migrate from a larger established platform to a new chain, it signals better future sustainability."

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has previously expressed concern about this fragmentation. On Twitter, Buterin called for better interoperability between Ethereum Layer-2 networks, suggesting that the ecosystem isn't sufficiently unified. "The L2-verse doesn't feel enough like a unified Ethereum," Buterin said. "It's much better than a year ago, but still far from perfect."

The proprietary solutions being developed may cause "UX friction for users," making it difficult for them to "navigate and transfer funds between networks," Blockscout explained in a follow-up statement. This friction could become a significant barrier to mainstream adoption of Layer-2 solutions.

With Ethereum's Pectra upgrade on the horizon, these consolidation patterns indicate Layer-2 networks are optimizing for specific capabilities that work across chains within their technological clusters, rather than attempting to be general-purpose scaling solutions for the entire ecosystem. If this trend continues, "we'll have this one homogeneous interop solution that everyone will just use," Skladchikova predicted.

The future of Layer-2 scaling may depend on whether these technical clusters can eventually establish cross-compatible standards or if the ecosystem will remain fragmented along technological lines.