What is a layer 2?
A network built on top of a blockchain that processes transactions cheaply off the main chain while still settling to it for security.
Layer-2 systems — most commonly rollups — batch many transactions and post compressed data or proofs back to the base layer. Users get much lower fees while inheriting the base chain’s security guarantees.
Why it matters: it is the mainstream answer to gas costs, and much Ethereum activity has already moved there. The trade-offs are real: withdrawing to the base layer can involve a delay, and many rollups still rely on a single operator to sequence transactions, which is a centralisation point being actively worked on rather than solved.
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