Layer 2s and it Importance
To begin with, we must define a layer 1: The foundational layer, or underpinning structure, of a blockchain is a layer 1 network. As shown in examples like Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Solana, the primary network, usually referred to as the "mainnet," not only establishes the fundamental principles of the ecosystem but also has the ability to validate and complete transactions.
These platforms need the technology to have an inherent level of security because there is no central authority or control, protecting consumers against scams and threats. Additionally, they have frequently lacked scalability due to this design priority and the enormous resources required to sustain a fully operating ecosystem.
While some developers contend that the Blockchain Trilemma—the difficulty to balance security, decentralization, and scalability—is an unavoidable weakness of the technology, layer 2 solutions, including rollups on Ethereum and the lightning network on Bitcoin, offer one way to address these problems.
On top of layer 1s, layer 2 refers to a collection of off-chain solutions (distributed blockchains) that alleviate scale and data bottlenecks. Consider a restaurant kitchen where just a few orders could be filled every hour if each order had to be completed by a single worker from start to finish before being confirmed and delivered. But layer 2s are more like prep stations, where each station can concentrate and do each operation much more quickly. For example, there is a station for washing and chopping food, a station for cooking, and a station for assembling the dishes.
