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Home/Glossary/Layer 1 (L1)
Blockchain & tech

Layer 1 (L1)

Also called: L1 · base layer

In shortA main blockchain that processes and secures its own transactions, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum or Solana.

Layer 1s compete on speed, cost, security and how decentralized they are — the so-called blockchain trilemma. Each has its own native coin used for fees and staking.

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  • Layer 1 projects
← KYC (Know Your Customer)All terms A–ZLayer 2 (L2) →

Related terms

  • Layer 2 (L2)A network built on top of a layer 1 that processes transactions cheaply and then settles them back on the main chain.
  • BlockchainA shared database made of linked blocks of transactions, copied across many computers so no single party can change it.
  • Consensus mechanismThe rules a blockchain uses so that thousands of computers agree on which transactions happened, in what order.
  • TPS (transactions per second)How many transactions a blockchain can process each second.
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