Networks

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• Layer 1 and Layer 2
• Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)

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A layer 1 network is a network in its own right. It is the blockchain. The base protocol. Ethereum, Bitcoin, Fantom, are all examples of layer 1 Networks.

Layer 2 are third-party integrations built on top of layer 1 networks. Its a protocol as oppose to a network. But it uses the base blockchain to confirm blocks so it has the security of the base blockchain.

Think of Layer 2 as piggybacking on Layer 1. It has been used for saleability. The biggest layer 2 protocol is Polygon and it uses the Ethereum Network.

The Ethereum network was the first network to introduce smart contracts. A smart contract can be looked at as a small program that executes a function when instructed. This can be anything from a simple maths equation (pretty pointless but possible) to things such as randomising artwork on the mint of an NFT to create a unique set of NFT's. A smart contract address is essentially a wallet, the same as the one you own but set to do a specific thing.

When you are interact with the blockchain you are using a smart contract.

Aside from other functions the EVM runs these smart contracts and it is why Ethereum was so unique when introduced and became so popular. EVM is opensource meaning anyone can use it, and they have! There are a lot of networks that run the EVM or are EVM compliant. This means developers can move around these networks easily as the programming language (solidity) is the same. MetaMask can run all EVM compliant networks.

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