What is Layer 1?
A base blockchain that settles its own transactions, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum or Solana.
A layer 1 is the chain itself: its own consensus, its own security budget and its own fee market. Everything built on top inherits its guarantees.
Layer 2s post their activity back to a layer 1. That makes the base chain's fees and decentralisation a limit on everything above it.
Related terms
- Layer 2Basics
A network that executes transactions cheaply and settles them on a layer 1.
- Gas feeOn-chain
The fee paid to have a transaction included in a block; priced by network demand.
- Consensus mechanismBasics
The rule that decides which version of a chain's history is correct — proof of work or proof of stake.