Written by Pablo Gómez
Founder & CEO at Metlabs · Reviewed on October 11, 2026
An L2 moves work away from the base layer and uses contracts or verification mechanisms to relate states. L2 confirmation differs from finality of data or results published on L1.
Optimistic rollups allow challenges to incorrect states during a window; validity rollups prove transitions cryptographically. State channels are another way to transact outside a base layer under defined guarantees.
Inherited security is not binary. Sequencers, upgrade keys, bridges and data availability can add assumptions. Costs and withdrawal times vary by system.
Sources
Also known as
- Layer 2
- L2 blockchain
