The so-called Layer 2 is a strategy proposed by Ethereum to expand the blockchain. The congestion of Ethereum in the early days is a problem for all to see, and the expansion of Ethereum is also an event worthy of attention before. When Ethereum expands, it proposes two strategies, one is to optimize and expand directly on the main chain (Layer 1), and the other is to build a new chain outside the main chain to achieve expansion, which is what we mentioned here Layer2.
Ethereum's current structure
The mainstream expansion solutions of Layer 2 include state channels, side chains, Plasma, Rollups, Validium, etc. Each of these solutions has its own advantages and disadvantages. Through continuous exploration and practice, it has been found that Rollups can bring together a large number of transactions for batch processing, and at the same time It can also inherit the security from the blockchain main chain, so this solution is more popular among developers.
First of all, the merger is not the only event driving the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade. Upgrading is made up of different parts, and merging is a part (albeit an important part) of it. The three main components are: (i) beacon chain upgrades, (ii) merging, and (iii) sharding. Technically, this involves more upgrades, but these relatively minor upgrades are designed to ensure the smooth operation of the network and will be implemented in parallel with other upgrades.
Each is a unique part of the Ethereum network's transition to a PoS model. The Beacon Chain was first launched on December 1, 2020, and brought Proof-of-Stake to the Ethereum ecosystem. The chain exists as an independent blockchain and currently does not handle data exchange on the Ethereum mainnet (short for "mainnet"). However, the Beacon Chain will soon be merged with the mainnet and become the consensus engine for all Ethereum network data, including executive layer data exchange. This official shift to using the Beacon Chain (Proof of Stake) as the block production engine on Ethereum is what the merger represents.
However, with the continuous upgrading and optimization of Ethereum, compatibility issues are also being resolved, risk warning:
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