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Polygon and Sonic Labs criticize Ethereum Foundation over Layer-2 support
Two leading figures in blockchain innovation have openly criticized the Ethereum Foundation for failing to adequately support developers driving the network’s scalability. Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, and Andre Cronje, co-founder of Sonic Labs, accused the foundation of overlooking Layer-2 (L2) builders who have contributed significantly to Ethereum’s growth and performance.
Nailwal expressed his frustration on X, stating that despite Polygon’s efforts to enhance Ethereum’s scalability and adoption, the project has received “no direct support” from the Ethereum Foundation. He suggested that loyalty to Ethereum has come at a cost, noting that Polygon might have forfeited billions in potential value by maintaining its identity within the Ethereum ecosystem rather than branching out as a standalone Layer-1 network.
Cronje echoed these concerns, revealing that he has spent more than 700 ETH on development and infrastructure without receiving any form of outreach, grants, or acknowledgment from the foundation. “No BD outreach, no grants, 0 support, not even a retweet,” he remarked, highlighting the perceived lack of engagement from Ethereum’s leadership.
Both developers emphasized that much of the technical progress and scaling solutions that strengthened Ethereum’s infrastructure came from independent Layer-2 networks rather than the foundation itself. They argued that the Ethereum Foundation has failed to provide proportional recognition or funding to those driving the ecosystem’s expansion.
In response, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin thanked Polygon and Nailwal for their contributions, particularly in advancing zero-knowledge (ZK) proof technology and supporting projects such as Polymarket. However, Buterin clarified that Polygon currently does not meet the strict technical definition of an Ethereum Layer-2 network due to the absence of a full proof system ensuring transaction security at the same level as the Ethereum mainnet. He noted that emerging ZK technology could make such integration possible in the near future.
The Ethereum Foundation has not issued an official response to the criticism. The public dispute underscores growing tensions within the Ethereum ecosystem regarding recognition, funding distribution, and the role of independent developers in maintaining network scalability and innovation.