Just what is Layer 2? Before answering that question, let's review the basics: 1. Blockchain Layered Architecture Usually, blockchains are divided into several layers: Layer 0, Layer 1, Layer 2, andJust what is Layer 2? Before answering that question, let's review the basics: 1. Blockchain Layered Architecture Usually, blockchains are divided into several layers: Layer 0, Layer 1, Layer 2, and
Understand Ethereum Layer 2 in One Easy Example
Just what is Layer 2? Before answering that question, let's review the basics:
1. Blockchain Layered Architecture
Usually, blockchains are divided into several layers: Layer 0, Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 3.
Layer 0: The foundational infrastructure of blockchain.
Layer 1: The basic blockchain for building dApps, such as Ethereum and other public blockchains.
Layer 2: The scaling solution for Layer 1.
Layer 3: The layer used to develop different types of dApps on top of Layer 1.
Let's use a street analogy to explain the layered architecture of blockchain. Layer 0 would be the foundation of the road. With the foundation in place, we construct Layer 1, which represents the actual road.
As the traffic on this road increases, congestion becomes an issue. To address this problem, we need additional solutions, like constructing elevated highways. These solutions, such as elevated highways, represent Layer 2 in the blockchain context.
Furthermore, on the road, we have various service stations like gas stations and convenience stores that provide us with various services. These service stations are analogous to the different types of dApps offered on Layer 3 of blockchain.
2. Why do we need Layer 2?
As mentioned in the previous example of traffic congestion, Layer 2 is necessary to address the issue of transaction congestion on the Ethereum public chain. When transaction volume is low, the fees and the transaction speeds are within an acceptable range. However, during periods of congestion, transaction efficiency decreases and fees skyrocket, often outpricing the transaction itself.
Let's look at three recent examples of network congestion on the Ethereum blockchain. The popularity of the CryptoKitties game in 2017 was the first event that caused congestion on the Ethereum network, which led the CryptoKitties team to create the Flow blockchain. In 2020, the DeFi Summer boom once again resulted in prolonged congestion on the Ethereum network, with average transaction fees exceeding $20. In 2021, the NFT sector caused network congestion on the Ethereum blockchain once again. As a result, users offered higher and higher gas fees to encourage miners to prioritize their transactions in order to secure popular NFTs.
It is important to note that, while these examples focus on the Ethereum network, Layer 2 networks are not exclusive to Ethereum. For example, Bitcoin's Lightning Network also falls under the category of Layer 2 solutions.
3. How to Address Ethereum Congestion
There are generally two approaches to resolving Ethereum's congestion issues. The first approach involves Ethereum's own scalability, enhancing its capacity to handle a higher demand. While this approach can fundamentally address Ethereum's congestion issues, implementation is technically challenging and may require a significant amount of time to complete.
The second approach is off-chain scalability, specific to Layer 2. This approach involves deploying a new environment on top of the existing Ethereum infrastructure, where a portion of the transaction demand from the Ethereum mainnet is migrated to the Layer 2 environment, thereby alleviating the congestion on Ethereum.
Continuing with our previous analogy of roads, the fundamental solution to alleviate traffic congestion is to widen the roads. However, road expansion can be difficult and time-consuming. As an alternative solution, elevated highways can be built on top of the existing roads to divert traffic and relieve congestion.
4. Common Layer 2 Solutions
Currently, the mainstream Layer 2 solutions adopted in the market include the Rollup approach, which can be further divided into Optimistic Rollup and ZK-Rollup.
In addition, there are other solutions such as Sidechains, State Channels, Plasma, Validium, etc.
The Rollup solution involves keeping the data on the Ethereum mainnet and transferring the transaction process to Layer 2 for execution. After the execution is completed on Layer 2,the transaction data is transmitted back to the mainnet. The key difference between Optimistic Rollup and ZK-Rollup lies in how they ensure the accuracy of the data results returned to the Ethereum mainnet on Layer 2.
Sidechains connect themselves to the main chain by means of bridging, with the assets locked on the Ethereum mainnet. Asset derivation and computational execution occur on the sidechain. Once completed, the assets are transferred back to the main chain, the derived assets on the sidechain are destroyed, and the locked assets on the main chain are unlocked.
Sidechains are independent blockchains that run in parallel with the mainnet and are compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). They bridge bidirectionally with Ethereum and operate according to their own selected consensus protocols and block parameters.
State channels are an early Layer 2 solution that allows participants to securely conduct off-chain transactions before confirming the result with the mainnet.
Similar to sidechains, Plasma is a standalone blockchain anchored to the Ethereum mainnet. It executes transactions off-chain and returns proofs of the transaction result to the main chain. Plasma utilizes fraud proofs to arbitrate disputes.
Validium is similar to ZK rollup, with the difference being that Validium's data is stored off-chain.
For a comparison of the different Layer 2 solutions, please refer to the following figure:
SNARKs/STARKs | Fraud Proofs | |
Data On-chain | ZK Rollup | Optimistic Rollup |
Data Off-chain | Validium | Plasma |
Original figure from Vitalik Buterin: https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin/status/1267455602764251138
5. Comments on the Expansion of the Current Market
There is no doubt that Layer 2 networks are currently the best solution for addressing Ethereum's scalability issues, with the Rollup approach being the most mainstream and popular solution.
As the industry continues to progress and develop, the concept of Layer 3 has emerged in the current market. Unlike the Layer 3 application layer mentioned earlier, Layer 3 in this context refers to solutions built on top of Layer 2 that offer more customized designs and address problems that cannot be solved by Layer 2, ultimately achieving a multi-layered network structure.
The concept of Layer 3 is still in its early stage of discussion, and Layer 2 remains the focus at the moment. In the future, it is not unlikely that more Layer 2 solutions will emerge to facilitate larger transaction volumes on the Ethereum network.
6. Notes:
Lightning Network
A scalability solution built on top of Bitcoin, which allows users to send and receive Bitcoins quickly and at virtually no cost.
Fraud proofs
Transactions are assumed to be valid, but they can be challenged if there is suspicion of fraud. When that happens, fraud proofs will run the transaction to determine if fraud has occurred.
Zero-knowledge Proofs
Zero-knowledge proofs allow users to prove to others that they possess knowledge of critical data or ownership without disclosing sensitive information, such as wallet private keys.
There are two types of zero-knowledge proofs: Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge (ZK-SNARK) and Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge (ZK-STARK).
市场机遇
Solayer实时价格 (LAYER)
$0.05989
$0.05989$0.05989
USD
Solayer (LAYER) 实时价格图表
热门加密动态
查看更多
BlockDAG 是什么？2026 年上线时间线全解析
概述 BlockDAG（BDAG）是 2025–2026 年加密市场最受瞩目的 Layer 1 公链项目之一。它将比特币的工作量证明（PoW）安全机制与有向无环图（DAG）的高吞吐量架构相融合，试图从根本上打破区块链的"不可能三角"。从预售阶段狂揽逾 4.5 亿美元，到 2026 年 3 月正式登陆多家交易所，BlockDAG 的每一步都牵动着全球数十万持有者的神经。 本文将系统解读 BlockD
Conway Research (CONWAY) 价格与 Bitcoin (BTC) 价格的比较为投资者提供了清晰的视角，了解这个新兴的模因币如何与最大的加密货币相提并论。由于 BTC 仍然是加密市场的基准，分析 CONWAY 与 BTC 价格表现突显了相对强度、波动性以及为寻求 Conway Research 价格预测和 Bitcoin 价格比较见解的交易者提供的机会。
Conway Research (CONWAY) 与 Bitcoin 今日价格 截至 2026 年 2 月 18 日，Conway Research (CONWAY) 的交易价格为0.00006876 美元，而 Bitcoin 则保持其市场领导者的地位[1]。它们各自的市场地位反映了一个已建立的 Layer 1 加密货币与在 BASE 网络上交易的新兴模因币之间的显著主导地位差距[3]。 CONW
什么驱动 ESP-ARB(ESP-ARB) 价格？您必须关注的 7 个因素
理解影响 ESP-ARB(ESP-ARB) 价格的关键因素 Espresso (ESP-ARB(ESP-ARB)) 与加密货币市场中的许多数字资产一样，表现出显著的波动性。作为Arbitrum 上的 Layer-2 扩容解决方案代币，ESP-ARB(ESP-ARB) 经历着受多个相互关联因素影响的价格波动。从代币经济学和分配机制到市场情绪和技术指标，理解这些元素对于任何希望驾驭常常难以预测的加密领
热门新闻
查看更多
Offchain Labs Membeli Token ARB Tambahan ketika Arbitrum Melepasi TVL $20 Bilion
Offchain Labs, syarikat pembangunan di sebalik penyelesaian penskalaan Layer 2 Arbitrum, telah membeli token ARB tambahan di bawah pelan belian balik token yang telah diluluskan sebelum ini, bertepata
相关文章
查看更多
流动性的基础知识
流动性是在金融学中是一个含义较广的词语，在不同的语境可以有不同的含义。但总的来说，流动性可以分为以下几个概念：1）资产变现能力的强弱，指将现有资产或财富换为其他资产的能力。2）主体偿债能力强弱。常用于企业，如果企业资产现金流较多，则流动性好。3）市场中的货币存量多寡。适用于宏观经济领域，如果货币的总供应量大于总需求量，则是流动性过剩。在加密货币交易中，流动性指的是第一种情况。除此之外，加密市场的流
美股周报 | 07.31–08.07：美伊破冰油价崩跌，AI 算力赛道全面提速
2026 年 8 月第一周，美股市场迎来两条平行主线——美伊外交破冰推动 Brent 油价单日暴跌 5% 以上，与此同时，Palantir（PLTR）和 AMD 交出了 AI 算力赛道迄今为止最强劲的季度财报之一。地缘风险溢价的消退、制造业景气的超预期回升以及 AI 软件与硬件双双加速的商业化验证，共同构成了本周美股"能源崩跌、科技反弹"格局的底层逻辑。本文将逐一梳理这三大主题，并附上本周个股表现
MEXC 0808 Stock Season全攻略｜地图任务怎么玩？50万奖池怎么分？
MEXC 0808年度品牌盛典重磅来袭！首届"美股季"携$500,000奖池正式启幕，0手续费交易美股，一站式解锁华尔街机会。早鸟报名已开启，正式活动将于8月8日16:08（UTC+8）启动。这篇全攻略带你读懂所有玩法——地图任务、抽奖券、奖励分配，一文搞定。*BTN- 早鸟报名&BTNURL=https://www.mexc.com/campaigns/0808*1.什么是MEXC 0808？0
