One of the biggest hurdles for early blockchain networks was the inability to process a high volume of transactions quickly and cheaply. Layer two scaling solutions have emerged as the primary answer to this challenge by building a secondary layer on top of the main blockchain. These protocols handle the heavy lifting of transaction processing off the main chain and then settle the final results back to the secure base layer. This approach allows for near-instant transactions with fees that are a fraction of a cent, making micro-payments and decentralized gaming feasible for the first time. There are different approaches to this technology, such as optimistic rollups which assume transactions are valid unless challenged, and zero knowledge rollups which use mathematical proofs for instant verification. By moving the congestion away from the main network, layer two solutions enable blockchains to compete with traditional payment processors like Visa or Mastercard, bringing the dream of a global decentralized payment system closer to reality.