🧱 #Layer2Explained: Scaling Ethereum (and other networks).
The most popular blockchains, such as Ethereum, face issues of slowness and high fees.
The solution? Layer 2 — an extra layer built to scale without sacrificing security.
📌 What is a Layer 2?
🔹 It is a network built on top of a main blockchain (Layer 1)
🔹 Inherits the security of L1, but processes transactions outside of it
🔹 Then sends the consolidated data back to Layer 1
💡 Why use Layer 2?
🔸 Faster and cheaper transactions
🔸 Massive scalability without congesting L1
🔸 Ideal for DeFi, games, payments, and NFTs
🔍 Main types:
1. Rollups (Optimistic & ZK)
🔹 Arbitrum, Optimism (Optimistic Rollups)
🔹 zkSync, Starknet (ZK-Rollups)
2. State Channels – off-chain transactions between fixed parties
3. Plasma – less used today, but was an initial step
⚠️ Points of attention:
❌ Not all Layer 2s are compatible with all L1 apps
❌ There may be longer withdrawal times (e.g., in optimistic rollups)
✅ Users need to “migrate” tokens to L2 with bridges
➡️ Layer 2 is like an express lane above the main road: faster, less congested, and connected to the base.
