Multi-Chain Architecture

Subnets/L1s vs Chains

It's important to understand that a Subnet or L1 is a validator set, while a chain is an individual blockchain instance:

• Subnet/L1: A group of validators that can validate multiple blockchains
• Chain: A single blockchain validated by exactly one Subnet

While technically one Subnet can validate multiple chains (like the Primary Network validating P-Chain, C-Chain, and X-Chain), in production it's almost always a 1:1 relationship, and we strongly recommend keeping it as such for:

• Simpler management
• Resource isolation: Each application gets dedicated validator resources, and in the scenario that multiple validators go down, at least only one chain will be affected.

Subnets

Subnets are blockchains validated by a subset of Primary Network validators.

Key technical characteristics:

• Validators must be Primary Network validators (2,000 AVAX stake requirement)
• Validators sync and validate the entire Primary Network (X, P, C chains) - takes longer to sync
• Validator set is constrained to existing Primary Network participants

L1s

L1s are blockchains with sovereign validator sets independent of the Primary Network.

Key technical characteristics:

• Validators form their own independent validator set
• Validators pay continuous fees (~1.33 AVAX/month)
• Validators only sync the P-Chain, not the entire Primary Network (faster synce time)
• No dependency on Primary Network validator participation

In the Subnet Creation section we will cover how to create a Subnet using Avalanche's Developer Console. To learn more about this architecture transition and the ACPs that enabled it, check out the ETNA upgrade.