Ethereum founder emphasizes the core principle of layer-one design—the "walkaway test."

Simply put, even if developers and builders cease activity, the underlying Ethereum network must continue to operate securely, decentralization, and remain available. This is not just a technical metric but a philosophical stance.

It reflects a deeper logic: a truly decentralized layer-one should not depend on any organization, certain developers, or ongoing active maintenance. The ecosystem can come to a halt, but the stability of the mainnet must not be compromised. This resilient design is precisely the fundamental difference between blockchain and traditional systems.

Compared to other L1s and infrastructure, this standard is set quite high, which is why Ethereum's resilience and independence are even stronger.