What Are Layer 0, Layer 1, Layer 2 and Layer 3 in Crypto?

Want to learn some interesting factoids about crypto? Of course you do. Among the most foundational concepts you’ll encounter are "Layer 0," "Layer 1," and "Layer 2." These terms refer to different levels of blockchain infrastructure. They each play a unique role in making crypto networks fast, secure, and scalable.

So let’s break these chains down so you understand some of the base concepts of crypto and blockchain.

Layer 0 in crypto: The ground floor

In cryptocurrency, Layer 0 refers to the underlying infrastructure that allows blockchains to connect and communicate with each other. It’s not a blockchain itself but the technology that makes multiple blockchains possible and interoperable. It’s the ground under the building.

Layer 0 includes things like the internet, hardware, and protocols that blockchains rely on to function. Projects like Polkadot are often associated with Layer 0 because they focus on enabling different blockchains (like Bitcoin and Ethereum) to "talk" to each other. Without Layer 0, every blockchain would be an isolated island, unable to share data or value.

What is Layer 1 in crypto?

Layer 1 is the "base layer" where the core rules of a cryptocurrency are set (like Ethereum or Bitcoin). It’s responsible for things like recording transactions, securing the network, and making sure everyone agrees on what’s happening (this agreement is called "consensus").

Layer 1 is like the main floor of a house. It’s where the action happens. People send crypto, mine or stake coins, and build apps (like decentralised finance, or DeFi, on Ethereum). Every transaction you make on Bitcoin or Ethereum happens on its Layer 1.

However, Layer 1 blockchains have limits. For example, Bitcoin can only handle about 7 transactions per second, and Ethereum, while more versatile, can get slow and expensive when too many people use it at once.

This is where upgrades or new solutions come in.

What is layer 2 in crypto? The expansion pack

Layer 2 is like adding an extra balcony around your house to solve space issues. Layer 2 can be thought of as solutions built on top of Layer 1 blockchains to make them faster, cheaper, and more efficient.

As crypto grows, Layer 1 blockchains like Ethereum can’t handle the demand alone. Layer 2 steps in to take some of the workloads off. For example, instead of processing every single transaction on Ethereum’s main chain (which takes time and fees), a Layer 2 solution handles batches of transactions off-chain and then reports back to Layer 1. This speeds everything up.

Popular Layer 2 examples include the Lightning Network (for Bitcoin) and Optimism or Arbitrum (for Ethereum). These tools let you send crypto quickly and cheaply, which is great for everyday use, like buying a coffee with Bitcoin or trading NFTs without crazy gas fees.

Layer 2 is the upgrade that makes crypto practical for real-world use.

What is Layer 3 in crypto?

Layer 3 is a new concept that is currently emerging. Layer 3 is the top floor where the real action happens for everyday users.

Layer 3 centres around creating tools and apps that make crypto actually useful and easy to handle.

It is where you find things like a marketplace to trade digital art (NFTs), a lending platform to earn interest on your crypto, or even a way to send money across different blockchains. Layer 3 can also be thought of as the place where separate blockchains link up, like a universal translator for crypto networks.

A working example is if you turn your art into an NFT and sell it. You can go to an NFT platform like OpenSea.

OpenSea can be considered Layer 3. It is a marketplace built on top of Ethereum and often uses Layer 2 solutions to keep things fast and cheap.

You upload your sketch, mint it as an NFT, and list it for sale with a few clicks. That’s Layer 3: A user-friendly app taking the complex stuff from Layers 1 and 2 and turning it into something practical.

How do Layers 0, 1, 2 and 3 fit together?

It’s like a city. Layer 0 is the roads connecting everything, Layer 1 is the buildings where people live and work, and Layer 2 is the elevators and shortcuts that make moving around easier. Layer 3 is where it is made easy for the average user.

In crypto, these layers team up to create a system that’s interconnected (Layer 0), secure (Layer 1), scalable (Layer 2) and usable (Layer 3).

Conclusion: Layers in crypto

Understanding Layer 0, Layer 1, and Layer 2 helps you see the bigger picture of cryptocurrency. Scalability and interoperability are hot topics in the crypto space, and these layers are at the heart of solving those challenges.

Blockchain isn’t just about the crypto bros making money. It is a revolution in how we store data, trust each other, and build digital systems.