At first glance, the title might suggest that winning a game is as simple as pressing the L2 button on your joystick. However, I’m not referring to that. Instead, I’m talking about the second layer (L2) of the blockchain. We can imagine a blockchain as a multi-level building, where the first floor is the main chain and the second floor is the second layer.
Is L2 a blockchain?
No, the second layer refers to additional protocols or systems built on top of the underlying blockchain network. These layers are designed to enhance the capabilities of the blockchain and address issues such as scalability, speed, and privacy. However, the second layer is meaningless without the main chain. It is a second floor built above the first floor.
Why do we need L2?
Blockchains are essential but limited. What if you need to process millions of transactions per day? Is the transaction speed sufficient to handle them? and how much do they cost? L2 is faster, cheaper, and even more secure when it comes to transactions.
Are there different kinds of Layers 2?
Yes, there are various types such as payment channels, state channels, and rollups. Some of the most notable projects include Starknet, Optimism, and Arbitrum.
How does L2 communicate with L1?
Each L2 has its way of communicating, but they usually submit data (as proofs) into the main chain to use L1 security to ensure L2. However, this data does not correspond to a single transaction in L2 but rather a large number of them (to keep the cost low). They may also use smart contracts in L1 for that interaction or dedicated nodes as watchtowers.
What if Layers 2 is a blockchain?
Then it is known as a Sidechain, which is a separate blockchain interoperable with L1 but that operates independently. It’s often used to offload transactions and data from the main chain to improve scalability, speed, and functionality without compromising security. The communication between both chains depends on locked tokens on the main chain that are emitted in the second chain (and burned in the second chain to be unlocked in the main chain). This process is known as Bridge. For example, Rootstock is a sidechain for Bitcoin, and it has its bridge.
Are the main chains okay with the existence of Layers 2?
L1 has a vested interest in the success of Layer 2 solutions because they help address scalability and usability challenges while expanding the overall ecosystem. For example, it is very common to find a lot of L2 content in Ethereum events. You can even find a section in the Ethereum documentation describing L2: https://ethereum.org/en/layer-2/
What does all of this have to do with gaming? Everything. Nowadays, a game that is not agile and cheap cannot succeed. That’s why you need L2 if you want to play and complete a web3 game.
