Can Metis go all in on AI to break the current L2 deadlock?

The exploration of Metis has opened up a new path for the development of Layer 2. In an era where technology is highly homogeneous, scenario differentiation may be the key to breaking through.

Written by: Haotian

Many people believe that the Ethereum Layer 2 ecosystem is beyond saving, but that's not the case. If we only look at it from the perspective of the TPS arms race, there is indeed a sense of decline. However, after the Pectra technology upgrade, if some Layer 2 solutions can reposition themselves correctly, they might still have the strength to fight back. Recently, @MetisL2 released a strategic roadmap called All in AI. Can this alternative choice break the current deadlock of Layer 2? Let me share my observations:

1. To be honest, the fundamental problem facing the current Layer 2 ecosystem is not a lack of technical capability, but rather the solidification of narrative boundaries. Most projects are still adhering to the linear thinking of "faster speeds and cheaper Gas," which has led to excessive generic Layer 2 solutions emerging, with diminishing technical differences. Meanwhile, the real pain point for users—the lack of killer applications—remains unresolved.

After深入研究 the technical roadmap of Metis, I found that its real innovation lies not in breakthroughs of single technologies, but in systematic architectural reconstruction. The dual network strategy (Andromeda + Hyperion) is essentially a clever solution to the classic trade-off of "universality vs specialization."

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

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

1. MetisVM is a virtual machine deeply customized for AI applications. Through dynamic opcode optimization, its execution efficiency is improved by 30% compared to traditional EVM, marking a qualitative leap for AI inference scenarios. More importantly, the MPEF parallel execution framework resolves the conflict between blockchain's serial processing and AI's concurrent demands.

2. MetisDB, which adopts memory-mapped Merkle trees and MVCC concurrency control, achieves nanosecond-level state access. This design completely eliminates storage bottlenecks, providing hardware performance assurance for high-frequency AI computations.

Based on the above background, it is not difficult to understand MetisSDK. In simple terms: MetisSDK is built upon modular components and standardized interfaces, creating a development toolkit specifically designed for AI applications. It abstracts complex chain-level technologies into composable building blocks, effectively lowering the development threshold for AI applications.

3. Based on my personal observations of the web3AI industry, the current biggest issue is not a lack of technical capability but a distortion in the value distribution mechanism. Large platforms monopolize most of the value, and data providers hardly benefit. In other words, today's AI is a black box; where does the training data come from? How do the algorithms work? Are the results trustworthy? These questions remain unclear.

LazAI aims to change the situation through three core innovations:

1. The iDAO model redefines the AI governance structure. Unlike traditional DAOs, iDAO allows every individual or AI agent to become a governance participant, rather than a passive data provider. To some extent, this is an alternative to the current centralized governance model in AI.

2. DAT (Data Anchored 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 akin to equipping AI with a "black box," where all reasoning processes are verifiable, traceable, and accountable. This concept of "verifiable AI" provides a foundation of trust for decentralized AI applications.

The design of this set of combination punches is like building a brand new "value distribution engine" for the integration of AI and Web3. If DeFi establishes a financial value system using indicators such as TVL and APR, LazAI is constructing a similar quantitative framework for AI.

Above.

In conclusion, the current Metis technical framework appears to me like a sandwich structure. At the bottom, Metis itself provides a unified governance mechanism and token incentives; in the middle, Hyperion specifically handles high-performance AI computing; and at the top, LazAI defines the rules for value circulation. This layered design is not 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 tokenomics will naturally be upgraded synchronously. As the native token of the dual network, METIS has a more diversified income source than traditional Layer 2: in addition to transaction fees, there are also new income sources such as computing fees and data validation fees. The introduction of the Holders Mining revenue-sharing model further transforms token holders from passive speculators into sharers of ecological value.

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