what's L2BEAT?
L2BEAT is an independent research organization dedicated to analyzing and improving the security and transparency of Ethereum's Layer 2 scaling solutions. It provides detailed assessments of rollups, sidechains, and other scaling technologies, focusing on risks such as state validation, data availability, and exit mechanisms. By maintaining a comprehensive database of L2 projects, L2BEAT helps developers, users, and investors understand the trade-offs and trust assumptions in these systems. The platform features tools like total value locked (TVL) tracking, risk visualizations, and categorization frameworks to evaluate whether projects meet L2 standards. For instance, it examines proof systems (e.g., ZK or optimistic), data availability layers, and bridge security. L2BEAT also conducts security experiments and publishes reports on emerging challenges, such as those related to EIP-4844 blobs or trusted setups in zero-knowledge proofs. Beyond analytics, L2BEAT contributes to the ecosystem through initiatives like DABEAT for data availability exploration and ZK Catalog for evaluating proving systems. Its open-source approach encourages community verification and fosters higher standards for Ethereum scaling.
MegaETH (OP Stack, RiscZero ZK, EigenDA) added to L2BEAT; L2 TVL decreased to $43B in 2025.
Links
x.com/l2beatAdded MegaETH to the platform with a full risk assessment covering its OP Stack implementation using fraud proofs resolved by RiscZero ZK proofs and EigenDA.
Total Layer 2 TVL (rollups plus validiums/optimiums combined, excluding sidechains) as tracked by L2BEAT decreased from approximately $50 billion to $43 billion USD during 2025, with a peak of $60 billion USD reached during the year.
Outlined the Ethereum Interop Layer (EIL) to unify Ethereum's L2 ecosystem for a seamless user experience.
Listed at the top of the "Validiums and Optimiums" tab in 2025.
EigenDA releases formal framework for AltDA security integration on Ethereum, explicitly formalizing principles from the L2BEAT framework.
Researchers donnoh_eth and sergeyshemyakov present on native rollups and the future of the ZK Catalog at eth_proofs Day from 2PM-2:20PM.
L2BEAT co-hosts a stand at EFDevcon's L2 District at Ethereum's World Fair focusing on Stage 2 Rollups.
New Stage 1 requirements proposed for ZK verifier setups as part of ZK Catalog initiative, prohibiting proving systems with red-rated trusted setups and mandating full public source code with reproducible verifier setups.
Researcher donnoh_eth speaks at Bankless Summit on November 18 alongside Ethereum Foundation researchers and crypto industry leaders.
L2BEAT proposes new methodology to analyze each L2 bridge escrow individually for trust assumptions, enabling users to verify permissionless withdrawal capability for tokens held on Stage 1 or Stage 2 rollups.
L2BEAT adds RWA tracking to TVS metric, now displaying tokenized real-world assets on L2s and L3s categorized into restricted and public buckets.
The lighter protocol targets Stage 1 and Stage 2 classification advancement, with progress expected soon following L2BEAT's review.
Project operates as fully self-funded organization and is actively soliciting community donations to support its L2 transparency work, while founder appears on edge_pod podcast to discuss building trustless Ethereum L2s.
New monthly roundup publication launches spotlighting partner ecosystems and projects with coverage of TVS, activity metrics, and major scaling landscape news.
Team member participates in Token2049 Singapore keynote on native rollups scheduled for September 30th.
l2beat launches dashboards for Agglayer's multi-stack interoperability ecosystem, tracking liquidity and users across chains including Katana, XLayer, Lumia, and Wilder World.
0xFacet achieves first Stage 2 rollup classification under new categorization system.
Total Value Secured reaches $40.66B, approaching all-time highs as L2 adoption accelerates.
New UOPS/TPS Ratio Chart launches for tracking smart account and bundling protocol adoption.
New real-time L2 anomaly monitoring system reveals active downtime issues, including $250k exposed on one OP stack chain.
New categorization implemented with only 25 networks classified as Rollups, Arbitrum leads with $13.9B TVS.
Major recategorization of 130+ projects is now live with new standards and definitions implemented.
Major recategorization will remove L2 status from over 105 projects within 3 days.
Imminent protocol recategorization introduces stricter requirements for rollup status, including proof system decentralization and security council criteria.
Current security grading system focuses solely on canonical bridge security, overlooking non-canonical bridges and native assets which represent majority of assets in some protocols.
ZK Catalog updating soon with enhanced coverage of verifiers, trusted setups and audits.