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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →A Layer 1 (L1) blockchain is the foundational blockchain in a multi-layer network: it maintains its own chain and uses its own consensus process to establish the network’s shared record. Ethereum and Bitcoin are examples. Layer 2 (L2) systems build on an L1 and may handle some activity separately.
What does “Layer 1” mean?
Ethereum.org’s glossary defines Layer 1 as “the main blockchain in a multi-level blockchain network.” Put simply, it is the base network rather than a system built on top of another blockchain.
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An L1 is more than a token or a brand name. It is a network and protocol: participating computers maintain or verify the chain’s history and state, and follow rules for deciding which updates are valid.
What does a Layer 1 do?
The base chain supplies the shared record and the process for agreeing on its current state. In Ethereum’s explanation, blocks refer back to earlier blocks, while network nodes check proposed updates and agree on new blocks. That agreement process is consensus.
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Consensus is specific to each network. Ethereum currently uses proof of stake, but proof of stake is not part of the definition of every L1. Bitcoin and other L1s can use different designs; the defining point is that the network has its own underlying chain and rules for reaching agreement.
How is a Layer 2 different?
A Layer 2 operates on top of a base blockchain to extend or build on its capabilities. Some L2 designs execute transactions separately and post data to an L1. In Ethereum’s rollup model, the L1 is where posted data is included and consensus is reached; relevant designs derive security from Ethereum’s consensus.
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That description does not apply identically to every system called an L2. Designs vary in what they process separately and how they use the underlying chain, so the label alone does not tell you the full security arrangement.
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Examples of Layer 1 blockchains
- Ethereum: Ethereum.org describes Ethereum as an L1. Its implementation separates execution-client and consensus-client roles: one handles transaction execution and state, while the other performs proof-of-stake consensus tasks.
- Bitcoin: Ethereum.org also names Bitcoin as an example of an L1.
- Solana: The European Union Joint Research Centre’s 2025 report names Solana as an L1 example.
These are examples, not a complete list. Individual networks differ in consensus, execution capabilities, and how they support or interact with L2 systems.
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