Layer 2 solutions are scaling solutions that enable Ethereum to process more transactions and improve speed at a lower cost. They operate outside the Ethereum mainnet and handle transactions via smart contracts on secondary networks. Essentially, these solutions aim to reduce the burden placed on the Ethereum mainnet, enabling it to handle more transactions without raising gas fees or slowing down the network.
There are currently several layer 2 solutions available. The most popular are state channels, Plasma, Optimistic Rollups, and ZK rollups.
State channels are direct payment channels between two parties that process transactions off-chain. These channels are created with a multi-signature wallet, where funds are locked into it. This means that every transaction between the two parties only updates the contents of the wallet, without posting the transaction to the main chain, minimizing their use of gas fees. Additionally, this method makes it possible for users to make many transactions off-chain before settling on the main chain, resulting in faster and cheaper transactions.
Plasma, on the other hand, is a type of layer 2 solution developed to handle large volumes of transactions, designed by a team of Ethereum developers. It works by creating a series of side chains and processing transactions on them. Users can interact with dApps on the side chain, but they must occasionally settle transactions on the mainnet blockchain, ensuring the security of funds. This process is designed to reduce congestion on the mainnet, providing faster and cheaper transactions and a more seamless experience.
Optimistic Rollups and ZK Rollups are more advanced layer 2 solutions that use smart contracts to bundle transactions and submit them as a single batch on to the Ethereum mainnet. Optimistic rollups are based on the concept of disputes, where validators or operators are paid to check the validity of the batch transactions. This new process then removes the need for the gas fees, reducing the cost of each transaction substantially.
ZK Rollups, on the other hand, use zero-knowledge proofs to enable smart contract operations off-chain. With this solution, the rollup ledger will locally verify the zero-knowledge proof rather than posting it to the main-chain. This saves a considerable amount of gas fees and results in significantly faster transactions.
In conclusion, Ethereum Layer 2 solutions are still in the early stages of development, but they offer a lot of promise for alleviating the network’s congestion issues. These solutions are expected to enable faster and cheaper transactions for users, ensuring the cost-effective scalability of Ethereum. The adoption of layer 2 solutions is expected to significantly reduce the cost of gas fees, enabling more users to access the Ethereum network, while offering smoother operations for market participants.