Layered technologies. Bitcoin is layer zero, Lightning Network is layer two. It's difficult to see how the layers evolve and what the interfaces between the layers are, which functions end up in which layers. There will also be multiple stacks. From an architecture perspective, protocols are not built monolithically; we're not going to do everything in a single layer.
Transcript
[AUDIENCE] You mentioned layered technologies. With Bitcoin as layer one, you said that layer two.. might be the Lightning Network. [ANDREAS] Yes.
[AUDIENCE] Do you know layer three? [ANDREAS] No. To repeat the question... I mentioned layered technology.
If Bitcoin is layer one... We are geeks, so it is layer zero. If layer one is the Lightning Network, then what is layer two, and have I thought about other layers? It is really difficult to see how the layers evolve, what the interfaces between the layers [will be], and which functions end up in which layers.
Keep in mind: there will be more than one stack. Above IP, there were multiple transmission control stacks, including the OSI layer. Below IP, there are multiple stacks that most people never see. Software-defined networking; before that, fiber networks, etc.
It is impossible to know exactly how [these layers] will play out. What I can tell you is that these protocols will not be built monolithically. One layer will not do everything. It doesn't make sense from an architecture perspective.
That doesn't mean we won't scale Bitcoin. We will scale Bitcoin [in such a way] that the layers above it will scale even further. [We don't] want to do everything in a single layer. It doesn't make sense and it doesn't work.