New to crypto? Crypto is built in layers, a bit like a building — the foundation holds up the floors, and the floors hold up the rooms you actually live in. This page maps those layers in plain English, with no jargon, so you can see what each part does and which coins live where. It is a free, beginner-friendly guide, not financial advice.
The four core layers of crypto
Layer 0 — the foundation. The hardware, storage, and links that power blockchains and connect them to each other. Think of it as the plumbing under the floor — projects here handle decentralized computing, file storage, and the bridges that let different blockchains talk.
Layer 1 — the blockchains. Base chains like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana that record and settle every transaction on their own. A Layer 1 has its own rules and its own network of computers checking each other's work.
Layer 2 — scaling. Faster, cheaper networks built on top of a Layer 1 to take the load off it. They process lots of transactions off to the side and then report a summary back to the main chain, so you get lower fees while still leaning on the Layer 1 below for security.
Layer 3 — the applications. The part you actually touch: trading apps, lending tools, games, and everything built on top of the layers below. When you swap a token or play a blockchain game, you are using Layer 3.
Things that cut across every layer
Security and staking. Some projects help keep many blockchains safe at once by locking up coins as a kind of safety deposit. These span more than one layer, so we show them as a vertical band beside the stack.
Middleware and oracles. Tools that feed real-world data — like prices — into blockchains so apps can use it. They serve apps across every layer.
Why layers matter for newcomers
Knowing which layer a coin lives in helps you understand what it actually does and what it depends on. An app on Layer 3 relies on the scaling network, the base blockchain, and the infrastructure beneath it — so its risks include every layer below it. Layers describe where something sits in the stack; that rarely changes. Explore the interactive map to tap any layer, see the tokens inside it, and answer a quick question to check what you learned.