Compare 13 Layer 1 blockchains including BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA — architecture, consensus mechanisms, and ecosystem growth.
Layer 1 blockchains form the foundation of the crypto ecosystem, handling transaction validation, consensus, and data storage. Major L1 chains include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano. Each chain makes different trade-offs between decentralization, speed, and security. Choosing which L1 to invest in requires evaluating their technology roadmaps, developer ecosystems, and real-world adoption.
A Layer 1 is an independent base blockchain network, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. They have their own consensus mechanisms and validator nodes, processing transactions without relying on other blockchains.
Bitcoin and Ethereum remain the largest L1 chains by market cap. Solana is known for high speed and low fees, Cardano follows an academic approach, and Avalanche offers a subnet architecture. Investors should choose based on their risk tolerance.
Layer 1 is the base blockchain network (e.g., Ethereum), while Layer 2 is a scaling solution built on top of L1 (e.g., Arbitrum, Optimism). L2s inherit L1 security while offering faster and cheaper transactions.