Layers 0, what is that again?
Diving into the world of Layer 0
Imagine a vast digital universe. For years, blockchain explorers have been building separate worlds, each with its own rules, borders, and populations (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana…). But gradually, these worlds are becoming too narrow: it's impossible to communicate easily, there are too many barriers, too much duplication of effort. This is where the need for a new layer in blockchain infrastructure arises: Layer 0.
The Origin of a New Continent
At first, blockchain was a bit like the Internet in the 90s: each network was isolated, each innovation progressed in parallel. But it quickly became clear that a foundation was needed, a highway, a place to build not just a world, but entire ecosystems capable of talking to and cooperating with each other.
What is a Layer 0?
Imagine a foundation that lets you build not just a single house, but an entire neighborhood (with roads, electricity, shared rules), while still letting each house decorate its own interior. A Layer 0 is exactly that: an infrastructure blockchain, designed to connect layer 1s (the classic blockchains), enable exchanges, share security, and open the door to applications that would be impossible otherwise.
But why is it important?
Because the future of blockchain will not be a blockchain war, but a worldwide network of interconnected blockchains. Want to send money from Ethereum to Solana? Store a file permanently while enjoying the best dApps from each ecosystem? Layer 0s make this possible. Without them, blockchain would remain a set of isolated little islands, limited in their uses.
A quick look at the landscape
- Polkadot (DOT): imagine a central chain, the "Relay Chain", linking specialized "parachains". Each is autonomous but benefits from common security. It's the vision of unity without sacrificing independence.
- Arweave (AR): here, we're talking about eternal storage. You engrave your data forever on the "Permaweb", thanks to innovative technology called "Blockweave".
- Avalanche (AVAX): an avalanche of possibilities! Three connected chains, custom "subnets", and unmatched speed thanks to "gossip" consensus.
- Celestia (TIA): the building block for data modularization. Here, no need to execute, you just publish and verify availability. The future of scaling?
- Cosmos (ATOM): the "Internet of blockchains". Every blockchain keeps its identity, but Cosmos allows everyone to communicate thanks to the IBC protocol. The Cosmos Hub is like the roundabout of blockchains.
- LayerZero (ZRO): the wall-passer. With its "Ultra Light Nodes", it aims for total interoperability, allowing all blockchains to understand each other without having to rebuild everything.
And tomorrow?
The definition of Layer 0 isn't set in stone. Depending on the source, it's sometimes a storage foundation, sometimes a universal connection center. But one thing is certain: without these foundations, it's impossible to build the future of decentralized finance, blockchain gaming, or even Internet 3.0.
