The next is a visitor put up from Rob Viglione, CEO at Horizen Labs.
If we had stopped at dial-up web, we’d by no means have gotten Netflix, real-time gaming, or cloud computing. The evolution of web infrastructure paved the best way for mass adoption. In the identical means, Layer-3s are an inevitable evolution of blockchain infrastructure—eradicating friction, reducing prices, and making blockchain really prepared for mainstream customers. But, critics proceed to argue that they add pointless complexity.
This debate in regards to the position of Layer-3s is an energetic one for us at Horizen Labs. The Horizen DAO has just lately handed a vote to hitch the Base ecosystem, a pivotal governance determination that marks the start of Horizen’s transition to Base, Coinbase’s Layer 2 community, as an appchain specialised in privacy-preserving purposes. We’re satisfied by the Layer-3 thesis and imagine that Layer 3s signify the following evolution in blockchain scalability.
Horizen’s transfer to Base isn’t nearly following traits, it’s about recognizing {that a} extra modular, interoperable blockchain stack is the important thing to driving real-world adoption. We’re not simply theorizing; we’re constructing.
The Historical past
For crypto to achieve a billion customers, transactions should be quick, low cost, and seamless. Layer-3s aren’t an educational train—they’re a sensible response to the truth that even Layer-2s aren’t low cost sufficient for mass adoption. Layer-3s additionally optimize for particular options that aren’t at present attainable on Layer-1s and Layer-2s—comparable to enhanced ZK capabilities.
Basically, Layer-3s tackle a core drawback: If Ethereum (Layer-1) is pricey, Layer-2s assist by processing transactions off-chain and solely committing remaining state proofs to Layer-1. Layer-3s take this additional by selecting Layer-2s as an alternative of immediately on Ethereum, making a hierarchical mannequin that minimizes prices at every stage.
Layer-3s emerged naturally as blockchain architects sought better efficiencies. StarkWare first outlined the idea in late 2021 beneath the time period “fractal scaling.” Vitalik Buterin explored Layer-3 designs in 2022, suggesting specialised functions past easy scaling. By 2023, main Ethereum scaling groups started implementing Layer-3 frameworks. Arbitrum launched Orbit for launching Layer-3 “Orbit chains.” Matter Labs launched ZK Stack for constructing zk-rollups as both Layer-2s or Layer-3s. These developments have pushed Layer-3s from concept to observe.
Not Everybody Is a Fan
Critics argue a number of factors in opposition to Layer-3s: many imagine Layer-2 options haven’t reached full maturity but, and making Layer-3s is untimely. Some argue Layer-3s add complexity. However nice expertise is about making complexity invisible to customers—identical to the web did. Some view Layer-3s as redundant, arguing their objectives might be achieved by optimizing Layer-2 options.
Nonetheless, a vital realization is rising that makes Layer-3s much more well timed: even Layer-2s, constructed to allow quicker, cheaper transactions, may nonetheless fall quick.
In some circumstances, a Layer-3 can summary prices even additional, guaranteeing near-zero gasoline charges. This value abstraction is significant. Blockchain adoption requires transactions which can be almost free to the top consumer, and Layer-3s present exactly this functionality.
That brings a chain-abstracted future nearer. In the end, that’s higher for onboarding new customers, higher for liquidity, and higher for incentivizing the constructing of latest dApps onchain. When customers can transact with out worrying about gasoline charges, adoption accelerates. Builders can construct purposes that wouldn’t be economically viable on higher-fee networks, and liquidity flows extra freely when not constrained by transaction prices. Your entire ecosystem advantages.
However abstraction isn’t nearly value financial savings; it’s additionally about usability and customization.
Customization and Connectivity
Layer-3s are additionally a pure response to the worry of ecosystem isolation. Chains don’t need to be siloed. Standalone Layer-1 blockchains face vital challenges: they have to bootstrap their very own safety, entice customers from scratch, and construct a wholly new infrastructure. Many “Ethereum killers” like Cardano, Fantom, or Tezos have found how tough this journey may be.
Layer-3s supply an alternate path the place chains can stay related to established ecosystems whereas offering higher customization choices: that is the place their true potential lies. Software-specific chains can optimize for his or her distinctive use circumstances, whether or not it’s zero-knowledge proofs, gaming, DeFi, social networks, or enterprise purposes. They’ll implement customized digital machines, consensus mechanisms, or privateness options tailor-made to their wants, all whereas staying related to the broader ecosystem, benefiting from its liquidity and safety.
This mix of customization and connectivity makes these application-specific apps excel at what they do, in the end benefiting the top customers.
A Pathway to Abstraction
Folks might declare that Layer-3s make web3 too difficult, however there’s a very good probability that it might remedy its personal drawback. The complexity might be invisible to finish customers if carried out accurately.
Trendy dApps can summary away the underlying layers by way of sensible pockets designs and intuitive interfaces. Customers needn’t know which layer they’re transacting on any greater than web customers want to grasp TCP/IP protocols. They merely expertise quicker, cheaper transactions, and higher merchandise.
This pure evolution in blockchain structure is a constructive step. Layer-3s stability sovereignty with interoperability. They maximize value effectivity with out sacrificing safety. They permit specialised optimization whereas sustaining ecosystem connections. These aren’t simply nice-to-have options. They’re important for blockchains to realize mainstream adoption.
The web didn’t take off as a result of customers understood packet-switching or HTTP protocols. It took off as a result of it simply labored. Layer-3s convey us nearer to a blockchain world that ‘simply works’—seamless, quick, and cost-effective. And that’s how crypto wins.
Talked about on this article
