Ethereum's development roadmap has shifted from a rollup-centric scaling approach to focusing on optimizing the Layer 1 (L1) blockchain itself over the past two months. This strategic pivot aims to enable horizontal scaling through a highly optimized L1, enhancing Ethereum's capacity as a settlement layer for Layer 2 (L2) solutions. Market sentiment around Ethereum remains strongly bullish, with multiple observers predicting substantial price appreciation, including forecasts of Ethereum reaching $10,000 and becoming a $2 trillion global store of value. Despite some narrative shifts from critics suggesting issues with rollups or L2s, Ethereum continues to demonstrate scalability improvements while maintaining its attractiveness for L2 settlements. The ecosystem's emphasis on L1 scaling is seen as a positive development, reinforcing Ethereum's position as a sovereign store of value and a leading platform in the cryptocurrency space.