Comparison and Analysis of Layer2 and Layer3 Mechanisms: A Comprehensive Interpretation of Technical Architecture, Application Scenarios, and Ecological Trends

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin pointed out in his latest post on August 7 that mainstream Layer 2 solutions have basically achieved the first stage of security standards (limited training rounds). The next core goal is to achieve fast withdrawals through zk-SNARKs systems - reducing the time to within 1 hour in the short term, with a mid-term goal of 12 seconds.

This statement directly addresses the issue of several days withdrawal delays faced by the current Layer 2 utilizing the Optimistic Rollup solution. Meanwhile, Layer 3, as a higher-level architecture, is reconstructing the boundaries of the scaling ecosystem through a hybrid consensus model and standardized interfaces.

Core Mechanisms and Latest Developments of Layer2

The solutions to the blockchain scalability issues are undergoing a critical turning point in technological iteration. Rollup technology has become the mainstream solution for current Layer 2 expansion, achieving a significant increase in throughput by moving transaction execution off-chain, and then submitting data batches to the Ethereum mainnet through compression and proof.

According to the latest industry data from August 2025, the total value locked (TVL) of leading Layer 2 protocols has exceeded $8 billion, with an annual growth rate of 470%, handling over 68% of the DEX trading volume in the Ethereum ecosystem.

The technical route dispute between ZK and OP

Currently, Rollups are mainly divided into two major technical camps: ZK-Rollups and Optimistic Rollups, which have significant differences in security mechanisms and performance.

Optimistic Rollups (such as Arbitrum and Optimism) use a fraud proof mechanism, assuming all transactions are valid by default and only verifying in the event of a dispute. Although this design is technically mature, it requires a challenge period of about 7 days to ensure fund safety, resulting in significant delays for user withdrawals.

ZK-Rollups (such as zkSync and StarkNet) rely on zk-SNARKs technology, where each transaction is instantaneously verified for validity through cryptographic proof, theoretically achieving withdrawal speeds of 12 seconds. However, historically, the complexity of the technology and high hardware costs have limited its adoption.

Vitalik clearly stated in his latest post: "The OP proof system needs to be abandoned," as its inherent latency has become a bottleneck for Ethereum ecosystem liquidity. He also pointed out that the maturity of ZK technology has reached a critical turning point.

The innovation of the mixed proof system ###

To balance security and efficiency, Vitalik proposed the "2-of-3" mixed proof strategy, combining the advantages of zk-SNARKs, OP, and Trusted Execution Environment (TEE):

• ZK + OP combination: Provides trustless security guarantees, making it impossible for a single participant to compromise the system.
• ZK + TEE combination: Achieve instant withdrawals under normal circumstances.
• TEE + OP combination: Utilize mature technology to ensure stability in the production environment.

This hybrid model aims to achieve withdrawals within 1 hour in the short term, reach a target of 12 seconds in the medium term, and ultimately enable instant transfer of native assets across L2.

application scenarios and data performance

In 2025, Layer 2 will show revolutionary impact in three core scenarios:

• DeFi field: After Uniswap V3 migrated to Arbitrum, the average trading cost for users dropped from 15 USD to 0.3 USD, a decrease of 98%.
• NFT Market: After OpenSea integrated Polygon, the cost of minting NFTs dropped from $50 to $0.01, with Layer 2 transactions accounting for over 35%.
• Chain game experience: After Axie Infinity adopted the Ronin sidechain, daily active users exceeded 2.5 million, and daily transactions reached 15 million.

The Architectural Innovation and Application Paradigms of Layer3

Layer 3 solutions are not simply overlaid on Layer 2, but achieve further functional expansion through specialized architectures. Its core value lies in providing a customized execution environment for specific application scenarios while inheriting the underlying security.

Definition and Differentiation

Currently, Layer 3 presents two major differentiation paths in the ecosystem:

• Infrastructure L3: Focused on further scaling and technical optimization
• Application Layer L3: Build user-interactive protocol layers and entry platforms

This differentiation marks the evolution of blockchain architecture into the specialization stage.

###Native Rollup's hybrid consensus model

The Native Rollup solution proposed by Opside represents an innovative direction for infrastructure-based L3, adopting a three-layer architecture design:

• Layer 1: Ethereum mainnet, providing final settlement
• Layer 2: EVM compatible chain, using PoS consensus, with over 100,000 validator nodes.
• Layer 3: Composed of multiple native zkRollups, using a hybrid mechanism of PoS + PoW.

In this model, validators assume dual roles: sorting transactions and earning gas fees as sequencers through the PoS mechanism; competing as provers to generate zk-SNARKs and win block rewards through PoW.

This design has achieved three major breakthroughs:

• Shared security layer: L2 and L3 share a set of validators
• Parallel proof generation: Significantly improves ZK proof efficiency
• Automatic penalty mechanism: Blocks that are not verified in a timely manner will penalize the Sequencer.

new paradigm in the application layer

Application-oriented Layer3 platforms like Layer3 Protocol are building the user entry for Web3. As of August 2025, the platform has achieved:

• Covering full-chain infrastructure for 45+ blockchains
• Monthly active users 300,000
• Cumulative driven transactions of 150 million
• Plan to expand to the Solana network in October

Its core innovation lies in the combination of the Quests task system and CUBE on-chain credentials, transforming user behavior into verifiable on-chain reputation assets.

This design addresses two core pain points of Web3:

• Trusted Discovery: Prevent users from getting lost in low-quality project information
• Effective Learning: Lowering the technical barrier through gamified tasks

##Comparison Summary and Ecological Trend Outlook

Layer 2 and Layer 3 are both part of scaling architecture, but they form strategic divisions in terms of technical goals, application scenarios, and security models.

Technical Objective Comparison

• Layer2: Core solution to the basic transaction expansion problem, improving TPS and reducing Gas through technologies such as Rollup.
• Layer3: Focused on functional expansion and user entry, providing application-specific environments or aggregation platforms.

application scenario comparison

• Layer2 applicable scenarios:

  • High-frequency DeFi trading (such as DEX swaps)
  • Large-scale NFT minting and trading
  • Real-time asset interaction in the game

• Layer3 Use Cases:

  • Cross-chain identity and reputation systems (such as CUBE)
  • Structured Task Platform (Quests)
  • Vertical industry-specific chains (games, social, etc.)

##Ecological Trend Outlook

Two core trends have already emerged in the second half of 2025:

###ZK becomes a cross-layer foundational technology From the Layer 2 ZK initiative promoted by Vitalik to the Layer 3 proof mechanism of Native Rollup, zk-SNARKs are becoming the technological bridge connecting the various layers. With the implementation of EIP-4844, Layer 2 transaction costs are expected to decrease by another 90%, creating a more favorable environment for on-chain verification of ZK proofs.

Layer3 defines a new paradigm for user interaction

The application layer platform represented by Layer3 Protocol is becoming the "traffic distribution center" of Web3 through a full-chain account system and gamified task design. Its expansion to Solana marks the formation of a multi-chain user entry.

Infrastructure-type Layer 3, such as Native Rollup, reduces the development threshold through standardized interfaces (rollup slot), allowing developers to focus on business logic rather than underlying architecture.

Ethereum Layer 1's position as the cornerstone of the ecosystem is actually strengthened by layer scaling. Vitalik expects that with the maturity of cross-layer communication technology, Ethereum will eventually achieve "instant transfer of native assets across L2 via L1."

##Future Outlook

The evolution of the blockchain layered architecture is far from over. Layer 2 is experiencing a technological shift from OP to zk-SNARKs, and Vitalik's proposed "1 hour withdrawal" goal is expected to become the baseline for mainstream L2 by the fourth quarter of 2025.

The dual path of Layer 3 - the hybrid consensus model of Native Rollup and the user entry platform of application-based L3 - is building a vertical and aggregated ecological matrix. As platforms like Layer 3 Protocol expand to non-EVM chains like Solana, the value logic of the full-chain interoperability layer is being validated.

When these layered architectures form an organic network through standardized interfaces and a shared security model, Ethereum will truly achieve the transition from a "world computer" to a "world economic center."