Layer 1 vs Layer 2

The base blockchain network that independently processes and finalises transactions, provides security through its native consensus mechanism, and serves as the foundation on which all other layers and applications are built.

Layer 2 refers to secondary protocols and networks built on top of a blockchain's base layer (Layer 1) that process transactions off-chain while inheriting the security of the underlying blockchain, enabling higher throughput, lower fees, and faster confirmations without changing the base protocol.