Gelato's Guide to Avalanche L1s and Native Interoperability

TL;DR

Introduction

• What is Avalanche's tri-chain architecture?

• Beyond the Primary Network: sovereign Layer 1 blockchains

From Subnets to Avalanche L1s

• What were Avalanche Subnets?

• What limitations did Subnets face?

• How do L1s improve on the Subnet model?

Security and Consensus on Avalanche

• How do Avalanche L1s validate transactions?

• What's the difference between Snowman and Avalanche Consensus?

• What types of nodes support the network?

Native Interoperability on Avalanche

• How does cross-chain communication work in Avalanche?

• What is Avalanche Warp Messaging (AWM)?

• What is Teleporter?

Conclusion

• Key impacts of Avalanche L1s and native interoperability

• Launch Avalanche L1s on Gelato BaaS

Introduction to Avalanche

Avalanche's foundation rests on a tri-chain architecture: the Contract Chain (C-Chain) for smart contracts and dApps, the Platform Chain (P-Chain) for network coordination and validator management, and the Exchange Chain (X-Chain) for digital asset creation and trading. Together, these three chains form the Primary Network, providing the backbone of Avalanche's Mainnet ecosystem.

Avalanche's Primary Network provides robust infrastructure for asset management, network security, and smart contract execution. Building upon this foundation, Avalanche has introduced Layer 1s (L1s), which are essentially sovereign networks that were previously referred to as Subnets. These L1s represent a significant advancement in blockchain customization within the Avalanche ecosystem, offering developers the ability to create highly specialized and independent blockchains while maintaining interoperability with the broader network.

Avalanche L1s enable developers to create application-specific blockchains with high levels of control. From establishing unique governance structures and native tokens to implementing custom virtual machines, L1s offer the flexibility needed for specialized use cases. This sovereignty makes Avalanche particularly attractive for diverse applications spanning gaming, DeFi, institutional finance, and beyond.

By advancing from Subnets to L1s, Avalanche has addressed key limitations while enhancing scalability, customization options, and blockchain independence, all while maintaining seamless interoperability with the broader ecosystem.

From Subnets to Avalanche L1s

Avalanche L1s, previously known as Subnets, are validator groups that reach consensus on one or more blockchains. The rebranding emphasizes their independence as sovereign blockchains that define their own rules, rather than being perceived as subordinate to the main chain.

What were Avalanche Subnets?

Avalanche Subnets offered a flexible and scalable foundation for blockchain applications. They enabled developers to build customized networks with specific governance structures, security measures, and token economics. These Subnets could interact with each other, allowing smooth communication and asset movement between different Subnets through built-in cross-chain protocols. The architecture supported various virtual machines, enabling different execution environments.

Where Avalanche Subnets Fell Short

Subnets had limitations. Validators were required to stake substantial AVAX (2,000 AVAX minimum) for both the Primary Network and Subnet validation, making them costly for smaller projects. Validators also had to validate the Primary Network, reducing independence. Interoperability was initially weak until Avalanche Warp Messaging (AWM) was introduced. These issues were addressed by ACP-77, which removed mandatory Primary Network validation, and ACP-103, which introduced dynamic fees, lowering barriers to launching new L1s.

What are Avalanche L1s?

Avalanche L1s allow developers to define execution logic, fee models, governance, and virtual machines independently. The Avalanche9000 upgrade reduced deployment costs, enabling more projects to launch their own L1s.

Each Avalanche L1 has its own:

• Validators: Nodes securing the network.

• Ruleset: Token economics, fees, and governance models.

• Virtual Machine (VM): EVM for Ethereum compatibility or custom VMs for specialized use cases.

This architecture lets developers build high-throughput gaming chains, privacy-focused financial chains, or other specialized blockchains without impacting the Primary Network.

Security and Consensus on Avalanche L1s

Avalanche L1s use Proof-of-Stake consensus. The Avalanche Consensus Protocol provides fast, scalable validation. The Snowman Protocol is a linearized version optimized for ordered chains like the C-Chain and P-Chain.

Differences Between Snowman and Avalanche Consensus

Snowman: Linear, ordered, optimized for sequential transaction chains.
Avalanche Consensus: DAG-based, optimized for asset exchange and unordered transactions.

Node types include:

• Full Nodes: Store full blockchain history and propagate transactions.

• Validator Nodes: Stake AVAX to validate and produce blocks.

• RPC Nodes: Interfaces for external applications to interact with the blockchain.

L1s operate with independent validator sets. Some may use Proof-of-Authority (PoA), where validators are approved by identity and reputation rather than staked capital.

Native Interoperability on Avalanche

How Native Interoperability Works

Avalanche Warp Messaging (AWM) enables seamless, trustless communication between L1s. This eliminates reliance on third-party bridges, ensuring assets and data move securely across chains. Teleporter further simplifies AWM by providing an EVM-compatible smart contract interface for developers.

What is Avalanche Warp Messaging (AWM)?

AWM uses BLS multi-signature aggregation so validators collectively sign messages, reducing complexity and improving scalability. It ensures trustless communication between L1s without third-party bridges.

What is Avalanche Teleporter?

Teleporter abstracts AWM’s complexity, letting developers send cross-chain contract calls as easily as single-chain interactions. It creates a unified experience for EVM developers across Avalanche’s ecosystem.

Conclusion

Avalanche L1s mark a shift from Subnets to fully sovereign blockchains with lower barriers, greater independence, and scalability. Native interoperability through AWM and Teleporter ensures seamless communication without bridges, reinforcing Avalanche’s role as a leading modular blockchain framework.

Launch Avalanche L1s on Gelato BaaS

Test and launch Avalanche L1s with Gelato’s Blockchain-as-a-Service platform. Early adopters gain streamlined deployment, management, and interoperability tools. Get started today: raas.gelato.cloud.

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