Layer 1s – Vertical Analysis

Layer-1 blockchains have continually reshaped the digital asset landscape. Bitcoin set the foundation in 2009 with decentralized peer-to-peer money, followed by Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash, which refined its payments focus. Ethereum expanded the vision in 2015, introducing smart contracts and programmable transactions, while Solana pushed the boundaries with high-speed, low-latency performance. Now, application-specific Layer-1s like Hyperliquid are emerging, built to serve specialized needs. Each generation of L1s has advanced the technology, addressing prior limitations and opening new possibilities.

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