---
title: Layer 1 - Definition & Examples | RGM® Glossary
url: https://realgrowthmatters.com/glossary/layer-1/
updated: 2026-06-10
source_html: https://realgrowthmatters.com/glossary/layer-1/
---

Growth Glossary — Definition

SHT LAYER-1

# Layer 1

Base blockchain (Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana) A working definition from the RGM marketing glossary.

Base blockchain (Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana)

Term
:   Layer 1

Field
:   Web3

Category
:   Marketing

## The short definition

Hold that thought.Layer 1 is a marketing concept. Fix what it covers before the team debates tactics, and the rest of the conversation gets easier.

Base blockchain (Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana)

Layer 1 belongs to Marketing and refers to a marketing concept. A shared definition keeps the team aligned.

## How it works

Look at it this way.Layer 1 produces value through how it is applied. Change the inputs and the right use of it changes too.

Layer 1 is not a switch you flip. It names a moving idea, and the way it plays out shifts with the setup. A lean team running one paid channel applies Layer 1 differently than a brand running ten. Use Layer 1 loosely and teams pull apart; pin it down and the math lines up.

One rule always holds. Settle the scope of Layer 1 up front, then build the plan. Get it backwards and Layer 1 becomes a word everyone uses and no one shares. Keep this in mind.

## Where it shows up

Hold that thought.Use Layer 1 when it changes a choice. If it is not driving a decision, it is vocabulary, not leverage.

Use Layer 1 when it changes an outcome. For marketing teams, that tends to be three recurring moments. With no choice live, Layer 1 is good to know, not to chase.

1. **Setting budget.** Layer 1 points to where the next dollar should go.
2. **Choosing a metric.** Layer 1 checks that the figure is not just noise.
3. **Comparing options.** Layer 1 adjusts a compare so the gap is honest.

## An example with real numbers

Look at it this way.The example below traces Layer 1 through a real Mailchimp scenario, with real limits and a number to read at the end.

Consider Mailchimp. Running a content-led acquisition push, the team put Layer 1 at the center of the call. With a clean baseline and one fixed definition of Layer 1, they read what moved: organic signups rose 27% over three quarters. The discipline is the lesson.

Example walk-through for Layer 1 -- figures illustrative, RGM analysis

| Stage | The step taken | What it bought |
| Baseline | Logged where Layer 1 stood before the test. | A reference to judge against. |
| Define | Locked the scope of Layer 1 so it stayed stable. | No room for scope drift. |
| Act | A content-led acquisition push — one variable. | One change, a clean read. |
| Result | Organic signups rose 27% over three quarters | An outcome you can trust. |

Treat the Layer 1 figures as illustrative, labeled RGM analysis. Reuse the sequence, not the digits.

## Failure modes to watch

Hold that thought.Most mistakes with Layer 1 share a root: the term gets reported as if it were exact when it is not.

- **No segments.** Treating Layer 1 as one number for all. Break it out before you trust it.
- **Bare numbers.** Showing Layer 1 on its own. Context is what makes it readable.
- **Chasing the word.** Optimizing Layer 1 for its own sake. Check it tracks a real outcome.
- **Bad compares.** Benchmarking Layer 1 with no adjustment. Account for the model differences first.

## Questions teams ask

What does Layer 1 mean?

Base blockchain (Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana) Settle what Layer 1 covers first; the strategy follows from there.

Why does Layer 1 matter?

Layer 1 earns its place when it shapes a real decision. The leverage is in correct use, not in the word itself.

Where does Layer 1 get used?

Layer 1 informs a decision -- most often a budget, a metric choice, or a comparison. The Mailchimp example above shows the pattern.

What is the most common mistake with Layer 1?

Treating Layer 1 as one blanket rule and reporting it with no baseline. Both hide a soft assumption.

What should I read next on Layer 1?

The related terms below are a good next step; from there, see marketing attribution models, plus CAC payback periods.

What does Layer 1 mean?
:   Base blockchain (Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana) Settle what Layer 1 covers first; the strategy follows from there.

Why does Layer 1 matter?
:   Layer 1 earns its place when it shapes a real decision. The leverage is in correct use, not in the word itself.

Where does Layer 1 get used?
:   Layer 1 informs a decision -- most often a budget, a metric choice, or a comparison. The Mailchimp example above shows the pattern.

### Go deeper

### Related terms