When you send crypto, swap tokens, or interact with a DeFi app, you’re not just clicking a button—you’re triggering something deep inside the blockchain’s execution layer, the part of the blockchain that runs code, processes transactions, and updates account states. Also known as the compute layer, it’s where all the real action happens after the network agrees on what should happen. Without it, blockchains would just be ledgers with no ability to do anything useful.
The execution layer works hand-in-hand with the consensus layer, the part that decides which transactions are valid and in what order. Think of the consensus layer as the judge deciding what’s fair, and the execution layer as the clerk who actually carries out the ruling. Ethereum, for example, uses Proof of Stake to reach consensus, then passes those approved transactions to its execution layer to run smart contracts. If the execution layer is slow or buggy, even the most secure consensus mechanism won’t save you—your transaction could get stuck, your contract could be hacked, or your funds could vanish. That’s why so many posts here dig into smart contract audits, DeFi vulnerabilities, and exchange risks: they all trace back to what happens in this layer.
Most of the crypto scams, failed projects, and broken apps you see listed here? They didn’t fail because the blockchain was hacked—they failed because their smart contracts, the code that runs on the execution layer had flaws. A poorly written contract on Ethereum’s execution layer can let attackers drain funds, as seen with NinjaSwap and other dead DEXes. Even legitimate projects like Avaxtars or XPLA struggle when their execution layer can’t handle real usage or their code doesn’t update with the times. And when regulators step in—like BaFin in Germany or the FCA in the UK—they’re not just checking licenses; they’re looking at how that execution layer handles user funds and data.
What you’ll find below isn’t just a list of articles. It’s a map of where things go wrong—and right—in the execution layer. From how 51% attacks exploit transaction ordering, to why tokenized stocks like DHRX rely on clean execution logic, to how airdrop scams trick users into signing malicious contracts, every post here ties back to what happens when code meets cash. You won’t find fluff. Just real-world examples of what works, what breaks, and why it all depends on the execution layer doing its job.
Execution layers handle fast, low-cost transactions and smart contracts, while settlement layers verify them and ensure security. Together, they power today's scalable blockchains like Ethereum L2s.
