Starknet has officially reached Stage 1—a major milestone for the Ethereum Layer 2 network. Users are no longer fully reliant on the development team. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin praised the move, signaling strong support for this step toward decentralization.
Ethereum Layer 2 reaches new security standards
According to L2BEAT, Stage 1 represents the implementation of key safety features for Ethereum L2 networks. Starknet now has an upgrade delay, an independent security council, and a mechanism allowing even a minority of the council to intervene in cases of censorship or sequencer failure. These changes provide users with a much-needed safety net.
Buterin, who received STRK tokens through Starknet’s LockedTokenGrant last year, had already shown trust in the project. Blockchain data reveals that he silently moved over 2 million tokens to a private wallet—without any public statement. While the reasons remain unclear, the move indicates quiet support.
Until recently, Starknet operated in Stage 0, where trust in the developers was the only safeguard. With the shift to Stage 1, the network is taking concrete steps toward decentralization. The ultimate goal is Stage 2: full autonomy, where no entity can change rules, censor transactions, or freeze withdrawals.
Ambitious Ethereum L2 plans for 2026
Starknet has no intention of stopping here. The team aims to achieve full decentralization by early 2026. But their vision extends beyond Ethereum: StarkWare plans to connect Ethereum and Bitcoin directly, making Starknet the first Ethereum Layer 2 to operate across both ecosystems.
To support this vision, the StarkWare team is already accumulating ETH and BTC. This long-term strategy highlights their commitment to building a cross-chain infrastructure that expands the scope of Ethereum L2 technology.
With Buterin’s endorsement and clear progress toward decentralization, Starknet is emerging as a serious contender in the Ethereum Layer 2 space. The coming months will show whether other L2s will follow—or whether Starknet will set the new standard.
