Is L2 powerless to turn the tide? Looking at the future development from Metis's AI strategy.

Many people believe that the Ethereum Layer 2 ecosystem is beyond salvation, but that's not the case.

If we look at it purely from the perspective of the TPS arms race, there is indeed a sense of decline akin to that of an old general. However, after the Pectra technology upgrade, if some layer2 can reposition themselves correctly, they might still have a fighting chance?

Recently, Metis released the strategic roadmap for All in AI. Can this alternative choice break the current impasse of layer 2?

Come, let me share my observations:

1. To be honest, the fundamental problem facing the current Layer2 ecosystem is not a lack of technical capabilities, but rather the solidification of narrative boundaries. Most projects are still relying on the linear thinking of "faster speeds, cheaper Gas," and this homogenized competitive landscape has led to the emergence of too many generic Layer2 solutions, with diminishing technical differences. Meanwhile, the real pain point for users—the lack of killer applications—remains unresolved.

After深入研究Metis的技术路线, I found that its true innovation lies not in the breakthrough of a single technology, but in the systematic architectural reconstruction. The dual network strategy (Andromeda + Hyperion) is essentially a clever solution to the classic trade-off of "generality vs specialization."

Clearly, Metis needs to maintain the stability and reliability of the existing Layer2 Andromeda, providing a mature DeFi and Web3 application infrastructure; on the other hand, it needs to open a high-performance execution layer specifically serving AI scenarios, shifting from a general technology stack to a specialized AI infrastructure. This not only avoids homogeneous competition with other Layer2s but also finds a technical landing path for the integration of AI and Web3 (providing a feasible breakthrough idea for the Ethereum ecosystem?).

2. Previously, many people are quite familiar with the decentralized Sequencer and Hybrid Rollup technology innovations of the Andromeda chain and Metis. What is special about this brand new Hyperion AI chain?

1. MetisVM, a virtual machine deeply customized for AI applications, achieves a 30% improvement in execution efficiency over traditional EVM through dynamic opcode optimization, marking a qualitative leap for AI inference scenarios. More critically, the MPEF parallel execution framework resolves the conflict between the serial processing of blockchain and the concurrent demands of AI.

2. MetisDB uses memory-mapped Merkle trees and MVCC concurrency control to achieve nanosecond-level state access. This design completely eliminates storage bottlenecks and provides hardware performance guarantees for high-frequency AI computations. Based on this background, it is not difficult to understand MetisSDK. In simple terms: MetisSDK is built on modular components and standardized interfaces, creating a development toolkit specifically for AI applications that abstracts complex chain-level technologies into combinable building blocks, effectively lowering the development threshold for AI applications.

3. Based on my personal observations of the web3AI industry, the biggest problem currently is not a lack of technical capability, but rather a distortion in the value distribution mechanism. Large platforms monopolize most of the value, and data providers hardly get any benefits. In other words, current AI is like a black box; where does the training data come from? How does the algorithm work? Are the results trustworthy? These questions remain unclear. LazAI aims to change this situation through three core innovations:

1. The iDAO model redefines the governance structure of AI. Unlike traditional DAOs, iDAO allows everyone or AI agents to become participants in governance rather than passive data providers. To some extent, this is a "replacement" for the current centralized governance model of AI.

2. DAT (Data Anchoring Token) has a particularly clever design concept. Unlike traditional NFTs that only record static ownership, it tracks the entire lifecycle of AI assets. This innovation can directly address the fundamental problem of quantifying data value in the AI economy.

3. Verifiable computation provides transparency for AI behavior. This is like equipping AI with a "black box", where all reasoning processes are verifiable, traceable, and accountable. This idea of "verifiable AI" provides a trust foundation for decentralized AI applications. This set of combined strategies is like building a brand new "value distribution engine" for the integration of AI and Web3. If DeFi has established a financial value system using metrics like TVL and APR, LazAI is constructing a similar quantitative framework for AI.

Above.

Finally, to summarize, the current Metis technology framework, in my view, resembles a sandwich structure. At the bottom is Metis itself, providing a unified governance mechanism and token incentives; in the middle is Hyperion, which specifically handles high-performance AI computing; and at the top is LazAI, defining the rules for value transfer. This layered design is not just a simple technical stack; each layer is both independent and collaborative, avoiding the "universal" trap of traditional single-chain architectures.

As for what everyone is most concerned about, the $METIS token economics will naturally be upgraded as well. As the native token of a dual network, METIS has more diversified sources of income compared to traditional Layer 2: in addition to transaction fees, there are also new sources of income such as computation fees and data verification fees. The introduction of the Holders Mining revenue-sharing model has further transformed token holders from passive speculators into share participants in ecological value.

Overall, Metis's exploration has opened up a new path for the development of Layer 2. In an era of severe technical homogenization, scene differentiation may be the key to breaking through. Whether it will be successful depends on the specific execution, but at least the direction chosen is good. (In retrospect, the previous narrative positioning of decentralized Sequencer has at least been successful.)