You've heard the words “Layer 1” and “Layer 2”, but still don't understand the difference? Let me explain with an example, like a friend over coffee ☕:

🧱 Layer 1 — this is the foundation.

This is the blockchain itself:

  • $BTC

  • $ETH

  • $SOL

  • $ADA, etc.

    ➡ It's like a “highway” that all cars drive on.

    But here's the problem: if too many cars show up — traffic jam starts 🚗🚗🚗

🛣 Layer 2 — is an addition.

It's like a “bypass road” built over the highway. It:

  • relieves the main network

  • makes transactions faster and cheaper

  • then sends data back to Layer 1

    Examples:

  • Arbitrum ($ARB )

  • Optimism ($OP )

  • zkSync

  • Base

⚖️ A simple example:

ETH — Layer 1

Arbitrum — Layer 2

You pay $0.1 instead of $15 for the same operation. Nice? Absolutely.

📌 Remember:

  • Layer 1 — foundation

  • Layer 2 — accelerator

💬 Write in the comments which Layer 2 you work with, and if you had experience with gas fees at $50 😂