Ethereum Scaling Solutions | Smart Investments Shift Focus to Infrastructure

Savvy investors are increasingly favoring infrastructure investments over individual Layer 2 (L2) tokens, aiming to support the entire Ethereum ecosystem in 2026. This strategic change comes as retail participants largely overlook the vital role of rollup infrastructure providers.

Infrastructure Takes Center Stage

At a recent crypto meetup, an insightful portfolio manager remarked, “Stop thinking about which L2 wins and start thinking about what every L2 needs.” This statement emphasizes the significance of supporting services that all L2 solutions require, including services like sequencer infrastructure, data availability, bridging mechanisms, and deployment tools.

Many influential rollups depend on a limited number of infrastructure providers, making investment in these foundational services increasingly attractive as the number of L2 rollups grows. Larry Fink from BlackRock reiterated this sentiment, stating, "Infrastructure always wins."

Market Watch: The Community Reacts

The response from the community reveals mixed sentiments:

• One commenter expressed concern, noting the vagueness of remarks about infrastructure providers.

• Another individual shared their investigation into specific infrastructure as a service (IaaS) firms, like Caldera, highlighting its connection to several newer blockchains. The query was raised: "Is there a dashboard tracking which infra provider each rollup uses?"

• It was also noted that while infrastructure is key, selecting the right provider remains a challenge. Users pointed out, "Half these L2s will be ghost chains in 2 years."

Key Insights from the Community

• △ Investors are actively searching for specific infrastructure insights to guide their decisions.

• ▽ Commenters acknowledge the risks in choosing L2s, stating that many may not survive.

• ※ "The winners in the L2 race are the ones selling the infrastructure," highlighted one participant.

Long-Term Trends in Infrastructure Investment

As the market dynamics shift, institutional players are expected to recognize the critical role of foundational services for Layer 2 solutions, resulting in a potential reallocation of assets. Experts estimate about 60% of investors may shift focus toward infrastructure, potentially increasing the value of companies providing these vital services.

This movement echoes historical investment patterns, where foundational constructs—like railroads—yielded more significant returns than individual companies. The lesson is clear: those who appreciate the necessity of robust infrastructure will likely reap the most rewards in this evolving crypto landscape.

As the industry evolves, a key question arises: will more investors awaken to the importance of investing in infrastructure as the primary driver for growth in Ethereum's ecosystem?