In 2026, Ethereum remains the dominant smart‑contract platform, not because it tries to be the fastest monolithic chain, but because it has doubled down on what it does best: secure, neutral, decentralized settlement for a global, always‑on economy.Since the Merge transitioned Ethereum to proof‑of‑stake (PoS), the network’s strategy has become increasingly clear and increasingly effective: keep Layer 1 (L1) robust and credibly neutral, while Layer‑2 networks (L2s) execute the bulk of transaction (plinko ball gambling) [...]
