What is Avalanche?

Avalanche is a blockchain platform capable of general purpose smart contract execution. It is a base layer, or layer 1 (L1), which can connect to sidechains and support layer 2 (L2) solutions. Avalanche calls sidechains and L2s subnets. Avalanche is seen as an alternative to the Ethereum network. These alternatives are often grouped together under the name “alt Layer 1s," or alt L1s. Avalanche’s network features lower fees and faster transaction speeds than Ethereum’s. The Avalanche blockchain can reportedly process 4,500 transactions per second (depending on the subnet), a significant improvement over Ethereum’s less than 20. Avalanche’s native token is AVAX, which is used to secure the network and pay transaction fees.

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