# What is a layer 2 blockchain?


**Published by:** [amins10](https://paragraph.com/@amins10/)
**Published on:** 2022-06-08
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@amins10/what-is-a-layer-2-blockchain

## Content

As layer 1 blockchains, Bitcoin and Ethereum, have always been plagued by the 'Blockchain Trilemma'. This means that, one of three features (scalability, decentralisation & security) needs to be sacrificed for the blockchain to function For instance, on the Bitcoin and Ethereum Blockchains, scalability is traded for security and decentralisation. So, while data is stored in a secured distributed ledger, these blockchains suffer in terms of transaction speeds, especially as the number of users on the network increases. Bitcoin has a transaction per second (TPS) speed of 7, whereas Ethereum has a TPS of 15. These are extremely slow compared to other payment services like Visa, which has a TPS of 45,000. Developers have turned to layer 2 solutions to address this gulf in processing speeds source: https://www.cnbctv18.com/cryptocurrency/what-is-a-layer-2-blockchain-13267932.htm

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