With the increasing adoption of blockchain tech and Web3 platforms as a whole, there remains an ever-present challenge: scaling while maintaining both decentralization and security simultaneously.
Layer 1 blockchains such as Ethereum have high security assurances but often face high traffic issues with high transaction fees.
Here, the importance of Rollup networks presents itself as a critical solution. How Rollup Networks Act as Middleware Between Layer 1 and Web3 Applications is a question that finds its way to the center stage when analyzing the existing infrastructure of Web3. Speaking of rollups, it is worth saying that they are an intermediary that relates to the concept of Web3 middleware infrastructure that creates the relation with Layer 1 secure base layers and dApps.
This article discusses the functioning of the Rollup networks as middleware; its technical aspect; benefits; limitations; and its importance in the future of Web3.
Understanding Layer 1 and Web3 Application Challenges
Before diving into rollups, it’s important to understand the structural gap they are designed to fill.
What Is Layer 1?
Layer 1 refers to the base blockchain network, such as Ethereum, Bitcoin, or Solana. These networks handle:
Transaction validation
Consensus mechanisms
Data availability
Network security
While Layer 1 chains prioritize decentralization and security, they often face performance bottlenecks.
Challenges Faced by Web3 Applications
Web3 applications rely on Layer 1 networks but encounter several issues:
High gas fees during congestion
Slow transaction finality
Limited transaction throughput
Poor user experience during peak usage
This disconnect between application demand and base-layer capacity creates the need for an intermediary solution.
What Are Rollup Networks?
Rollup networks are Layer 2 scaling solutions that execute transactions off-chain while posting compressed transaction data back to Layer 1. Instead of every transaction being processed directly on the base chain, rollups bundle (or “roll up”) multiple transactions into a single proof.
Recent protocol upgrades such as Ethereum’s EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding) further strengthen this model.
EIP-4844 introduces a new transaction type that allows rollups to post data blobs to Ethereum at significantly lower costs than traditional calldata. This reduces data availability expenses for rollups, lowers user fees, and reinforces the role of rollups as the primary execution layer for Ethereum-based applications—without overloading Layer 1.
This design positions rollups as a middleware layer rather than a standalone blockchain.
How Rollup Networks Act as Middleware Between Layer 1 and Web3 Applications
Rollup networks sit between Layer 1 blockchains and Web3 applications, acting as a transaction execution and coordination layer.
Middleware Role Explained
As middleware, rollups:
Receive transactions from Web3 applications
Order transactions through a sequencer
Execute them in a separate environment
Compress transaction data
Submit proofs or calldata back to Layer 1
Sequencers play a critical role in this middleware layer.
A sequencer is responsible for collecting user transactions, ordering them, and submitting them to the rollup execution environment. By doing so, sequencers enable fast confirmations, predictable fees, and improved user experience while abstracting Layer 1 congestion from applications.
This allows dApps to interact with rollups instead of directly competing for scarce Layer 1 block space.
Transaction Flow Through Rollups
Step-by-step process:
User submits a transaction via a Web3 application
Transaction is sent to the rollup network
Sequencer orders and batches multiple transactions
Rollup executes and batches multiple transactions
Compressed data or proof is posted to Layer 1
Layer 1 verifies and finalizes the state
This flow illustrates how rollups act as a bridge between application logic and base-layer security.
Types of Rollups Used as Middleware
Rollups are not all the same. Two main categories dominate the ecosystem.
Optimistic Rollups
Optimistic rollups assume transactions are valid by default and only verify them if challenged.
Key features:
Fraud proofs for dispute resolution
Lower computation costs
Withdrawal delays due to challenge periods
Examples include Optimism and Arbitrum.
Zero-Knowledge (ZK) Rollups
ZK-rollups generate cryptographic proofs that confirm transaction validity before settlement.
Key features:
Validity proofs (ZK-SNARKs or ZK-STARKs)
Faster finality
Higher computational complexity
Examples include zkSync and Starknet.
Rollups as Web3 Middleware Infrastructure
In modern blockchain stacks, rollups are increasingly described as Web3 middleware infrastructure because they abstract complexity away from both users and developers.
Why Rollups Fit the Middleware Model
They manage execution environments for dApps
They optimize data availability and cost
They standardize communication between Layer 1 and applications
They support developer tooling and SDKs
From the perspective of Web3 developers, rollups feel like an extension of Layer 1 but perform like a high-speed execution layer.
Benefits of Rollup Middleware for Web3 Applications
Advantages for Developers and Users
Lower transaction fees: Costs are amortized across batches
Higher throughput: Thousands of transactions per batch
Improved UX: Faster confirmations and predictable fees
Security inheritance: Backed by Layer 1 consensus
Broader Ecosystem Impact
Enables complex DeFi protocols
Supports NFT marketplaces at scale
Makes blockchain gaming more feasible
Encourages mainstream adoption
Pros and Cons of Rollup Networks
Pros
Scalability without sacrificing decentralization
Reduced network congestion
Compatibility with existing smart contracts
Strong security guarantees
Cons
Added architectural complexity
Bridging risks between Layer 1 and Layer 2
Withdrawal delays (especially in optimistic rollups)
Centralization risks in sequencers