All terms
A base blockchain that settles its own transactions.
A layer 1 is a self contained network with its own validators, consensus and security. Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana are all layer 1s.
Layer 1s face a hard tradeoff between decentralization, security and throughput. Every design is a different answer to which of the three to prioritize.
If a chain can operate without depending on another chain for security, it is a layer 1.
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