# Layer 2

> A faster, cheaper network built on top of a layer 1 like Ethereum. Borrows the main chain's security.

Canonical URL: https://fudfomo.co/glossary/layer-2
Source: What The Block! Dictionary v1.0 (last updated 2026-04-25), browsable at https://wtb.fudfomo.co.

## Definition

A layer 2 is a network that processes transactions off the main chain and then posts proofs back to it. The most common kind on Ethereum is called a rollup.

The goal is to give users much lower fees and faster confirmations while still inheriting the security of the layer 1 underneath. To use a layer 2, you usually move funds across a bridge.

## Related terms

- [Layer 1](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/layer-1): The base blockchain itself, like Bitcoin or Ethereum. The foundation everything else builds on.
- [Rollup](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/rollup): A type of layer 2 that bundles many transactions together and writes a summary back to the main chain.
- [Bridge](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/bridge): A tool that lets you move tokens from one blockchain to another.
- [Ethereum](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/ethereum): A blockchain that lets developers build apps and issue tokens. Often called a programmable money platform.

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