Layer One Friction

Definition ∞ Layer One Friction refers to the inherent operational difficulties and inefficiencies experienced when interacting directly with a base blockchain network. These challenges typically include high transaction fees, slow processing speeds, or limited throughput capacity, which can impede user experience and application scalability. Such friction arises from the fundamental design choices of a blockchain’s foundational layer, impacting the cost and speed of on-chain operations. It often necessitates the development of supplementary scaling solutions.
Context ∞ Layer One friction remains a persistent challenge for many prominent blockchain networks, limiting their ability to support widespread, high-frequency decentralized applications. Ongoing discussions focus on various scaling solutions, including Layer Two protocols and sharding, to mitigate these limitations without compromising network security. Future advancements aim to reduce this friction through core protocol upgrades or the widespread adoption of more efficient Layer One architectures, making blockchain interactions faster and more affordable.