Ethereum isn't designed to be the world's video game server—it's the world's heartbeat. That's how one major crypto figure frames the network's core mission.

Here's the thing: if you're building applications that need to move faster than the chain's base layer, you can't stay fully onchain. You'll need offchain components running parallel to the settlement layer. This isn't a limitation—it's by design.

The distinction matters. Layer 1 blockchains prioritize security and decentralization over raw speed. Apps demanding microsecond responses should architect accordingly, leveraging sidechains, rollups, or other scaling solutions. The heartbeat keeps steady. Everything else adapts around it.