# Layer 1

> The base blockchain itself, like Bitcoin or Ethereum. The foundation everything else builds on.

Canonical URL: https://fudfomo.co/glossary/layer-1
Source: What The Block! Dictionary v1.0 (last updated 2026-04-25), browsable at https://wtb.fudfomo.co.

## Definition

A layer 1 is a base blockchain that has its own security and its own coin. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana are all layer 1s.

Layer 1s settle their own transactions and do not rely on another chain to be secure. The trade-off is that they often cost more or run slower at peak times, which is why layer 2s exist.

## Related terms

- [Layer 2](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/layer-2): A faster, cheaper network built on top of a layer 1 like Ethereum. Borrows the main chain's security.
- [Consensus](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/consensus): The way a blockchain's computers agree on which transactions are valid and which version of the ledger is correct.
- [Blockchain](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/blockchain): A shared digital record of transactions that no single person or company controls. Everyone can read it, and changes are extremely hard to fake.

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