A Layer 1 blockchain secures and settles transactions itself, while a Layer 2 processes them off the main chain and posts the results back to it. Layer 2s exist mainly to lower fees and raise throughput while borrowing the base chain's security.
A blockchain is a shared, append-only digital ledger that many computers keep in sync without a central owner. Records are grouped into blocks linked by cryptography, which makes past entries very hard to alter.
A gas fee is the charge paid to a blockchain network to process a transaction or run smart contract code. It is priced per unit of computation and rises when the network is busy.
A Layer 2 is a network built on top of a base blockchain that processes transactions away from the main chain and settles the results back to it. The aim is lower fees and higher throughput.
A rollup is a Layer 2 network that executes transactions off the main chain and posts them in compressed batches to it. Fraud proofs (optimistic) or validity proofs (ZK) keep the results honest.
A zkEVM is a virtual machine that runs Ethereum-compatible smart contracts and produces zero-knowledge proofs that the execution was correct. It powers ZK rollups that support existing Ethereum tools.
A clear proven process, that delivers
You've seen our ideas - now go deeper.
Discover more insights, guides, and engineering practice.