Consensus Security Inheritance

Definition ∞ Consensus Security Inheritance describes how a layer-2 blockchain or application derives its security properties from the underlying layer-1 network’s consensus mechanism. The layer-2 system relies on the robust, decentralized validation of the base chain to secure its own transactions and state. This relationship means the layer-2’s integrity is directly tied to the cryptographic and economic security of the layer-1. It allows layer-2s to scale while leveraging the battle-tested security of a more established blockchain.
Context ∞ This concept is paramount in news discussions about scaling solutions like rollups and sidechains in the cryptocurrency domain. Debates often address the degree to which different layer-2 architectures genuinely inherit security from layer-1. Future developments aim to strengthen and clarify these inheritance models for enhanced trust in off-chain processing.