DeFi & Crypto Technical
Layer 1 (L1)
The base blockchain protocol (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana) — provides consensus and settlement.
Definition
A Layer 1 blockchain is the base protocol where transactions are settled and consensus is reached. Examples: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, Cosmos. Layer 1 design constraints (throughput, latency, cost) drive much of the crypto-asset technical architecture.