Web3 infrastructure is structured in layers to ensure security, decentralization, and transaction speed. For professionals, it is essential to understand how these blocks fit together.
Layered Architecture
The Technology Stack
Layer 1 is the foundation of trust. This is where consensus is reached and data is permanently recorded. Layer 2 allows for increased transaction throughput while inheriting the security of the base layer.
Network Components
Nodes
Each computer participating in the network that maintains a copy of the ledger and validates transactions.
Oracles
Services that inject real-world data (oil prices, weather, election results) into the blockchain.
Bridges
Protocols allowing for the transfer of assets and data from one blockchain to another.
Security & Governance
Infrastructure is not just hardware; it is also protocol-based. Consensus rules (PoW, PoS) ensure that no malicious entity can alter the transaction history.
The Blockchain Trilemma
Finding the perfect balance between Security, Decentralization, and Scalability (Processing Capacity) is the major challenge for all modern Web3 infrastructures.