Layer-1 blockchain refers to the base protocol of a

blockchain The blockchain is a distributed ledger with growing lists of Record (computer science), records (''blocks'') that are securely linked together via Cryptographic hash function, cryptographic hashes. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of th ...

network that operates independently and can process and finalize

cryptocurrency A cryptocurrency (colloquially crypto) is a digital currency designed to work through a computer network that is not reliant on any central authority, such as a government or bank, to uphold or maintain it. Individual coin ownership record ...

transactions without relying on another blockchain. Bitcoin was the first Layer-1 blockchain, followed by Ethereum, which further enhanced the decentralized system through Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and smart contracts. Other blockchains, such as Solana, also emerged to support decentralized interactions through decentralized applications (dApps). Layer-1 blockchains differ from Layer-2 solutions, which are secondary protocols built on top of Layer-1 networks to enhance scalability and transaction speeds.

References

Blockchains {{crypto-stub