Gate News reports that on March 23, the Ethereum ecosystem will face three challenges in early 2026: scalability solutions, quantum security threats, and AI strategic positioning. Regarding scalability, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin criticized existing Layer 2 networks (L2), pointing out that some Rollup solutions rely on centralized components, cause significant ecosystem fragmentation, and fail to truly inherit the security and decentralization features of the main chain. Analytical firm 21Shares predicts that the L2 space will undergo consolidation, with the market focusing on networks that are highly aligned with Ethereum and offer stronger performance. On the quantum security front, the Ethereum Foundation has included post-quantum signature schemes and LeanVM research in its upcoming plans. Buterin also released a related roadmap, prioritizing quantum threats as a mid-term issue. In terms of AI, the Foundation positions Ethereum as the “trust layer” for decentralized AI systems, exploring infrastructure roles for verifiable outputs and economic activities between machines.