L1 (Layer-1)
L1Layer 1mainnet
A base-layer blockchain that settles its own state and provides its own security — Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain.
L1s differ in security budget, validator set decentralisation, and finality model. Stablecoin issuers usually pick one canonical L1 home (Ethereum for USDC/USDT/DAI; Tron for USDT-T; BNB Chain for FDUSD), then bridge / mint outward.
Related terms
- L2 (Layer-2)A scaling network that inherits security from an L1 by posting state roots back — rollups, validiums, plasma.
- EthereumThe dominant smart-contract Layer-1 — host to the largest stablecoin float and the deepest DeFi yield surface.
- SolanaA high-throughput Layer-1 with sub-second finality — large stablecoin float, distinct ecosystem from EVM chains.
- BNB ChainEVM-compatible chain operated by Binance — large stablecoin float, smaller protocol-level diversity than Ethereum L2s.