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Layer 1
Layer 1 in the context of blockchain, refers to the fundamental layer—the bedrock—of a blockchain network. It’s like the mainnet, where all transactions and data are stored and secured.
- Layer-1 blockchains, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and BNB Smart Chain, can independently validate and finalize transactions without relying on another network. These protocols have their own native tokens used for transaction fees.
- However, scaling layer-1 networks is challenging, leading to the development of layer-2 solutions like Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. These layer-2 protocols build upon the security of layer-1 while allowing more efficient and faster transactions before recording them on the main chain.