Definition
Plasma is a solution for Ethereum Layer-2 scaling, proposed by Vitalik Buterin and Joseph Poon, to achieve high-speed transactions and enhanced overall performance.
Understanding the term
For a long time, the leading Ethereum developers have been looking for a way to increase scalability in layer-2. According to the proposal, Plasma will be constructed to place layer-2 blocks on top of the Ethereum blockchain and run as a side chain. The existence of Plasma would allow offline transactions via hundreds of side chains using a single hash of the side chain into the Ethereum blockchain.
The need for Plasma arises when Ethereum network congestion becomes far too significant to proceed any further. But along with numerous benefits, Plasma also has a few limitations:
- It needs a centralized element for the proper operation of the off-chain elements.
- Requiring a long waiting period when users want to withdraw funds.
- Security risks for exits that threaten Ethereum’s immutability
According to Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, building complex features into its base layer is no longer a feasible idea.
Takeaway
The addition of Plasma would further mature Ethereum’s blockchain and eventually stabilize layer-1, while layer-2 would be further innovated in the future.