How layer 2 blockchain communicate with layer 1 blockchain? where does that communication part is hosted?

Question

I understood what is layer 2 via various blogs, videos and this page: https://ethereum.org/en/layer-2/

But I wanna know: how the layer 2 blockchains communicate with layer 1 blockchains?

I guess a centralised server is there who index layer 2 blockchain's data, and send the data to layer 1 blockchain by web3JS or etherJs or something similar. Here, the private key, rpc, and smart contract address are stored.

Or is there any method which connect 2 blockchains directly, no centralised server needed? if so, what's the method?

Answer 1

There are different kinds of Layer 2 networks. I'm mostly familiar with zk-rollups and a bit with optimistic rollups so let me answer from that perspective.

New layer 2 networks typically start centralized. So there is a centralized sequencer / some entity which gathers transactions and then posts them to the L1. Basically an off-chain service.

But this doesn't have to stay centralized. It's possible to add more of these centralized entities to do the same job, making the network more decentralized. If the economic incentives are right and the technology is open, plenty of entities will want to start competing for the rewards - in a very similar fashion to what happens with mining.

So off-chain services are utilized but the process can be decentralized.

Answer 2

A centralised indexer or relayer can be used as one of many means of communication between layer 2 and layer 1 blockchains. The information exchange between the layer 2 and layer 1 blockchains is handled by this server. The server will keep tabs on the layer 2 blockchain's transactions and state updates, and it will use the Ethereum JSON-RPC API to relay these updates to the Ethereum mainnet.

Using a sidechain is another way to communicate between layer 2 and layer 1 blockchains. A sidechain is built in this configuration and linked to the Ethereum mainnet. Nodes have the ability to verify sidechain transactions before sending the verified transactions to the Ethereum mainnet.

The usage of a cross-chain atomic swap is the final direct method of communication between layer 2 and layer 1 blockchains. With the help of this technique, cross-chain swaps can be done securely without a centralised party.

On both blockchains, a smart contract is created and contains a deposit from each party. By transferring their respective assets to the smart contracts, the two parties can then carry out an exchange. Before releasing the assets to the other party, the contracts will confirm that the assets have been received. With the help of this technique, blockchains can communicate in a secure, decentralised manner.