Glossary
Layer 1
Also called: L1
A base network that settles its own transactions — Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Tron. Contrast with a layer 2, which relies on a layer 1 underneath it.
See also
Layer 2A network that processes transactions itself and periodically posts the results to a layer 1, inheriting that chain's security while costing far less to use. Base and Arbitrum are examples.
RollupA layer 2 that compresses many transactions into one batch posted to the layer 1. Optimistic rollups assume batches are valid unless challenged; zero-knowledge rollups prove validity mathematically.
Last checked 19 Oct 2026.