Fast finality in Layer 1s—why does it actually matter?

The real issue isn't what most people think. According to industry experts, the actual bottleneck lies in how we settle assets today. Think about it: whether assets flow through traditional banking systems or physical channels, the journey is invariably sluggish. Multiple steps, endless operational overhead, friction at every turn.

Here's the thing—most L1 blockchains are optimized for transaction throughput, but they miss the bigger picture. Fast finality isn't just about confirming transactions quicker. It's about fundamentally changing how assets move and settle.

When a Layer 1 achieves rapid finality, it eliminates the waiting game. No more lingering uncertainty. No more operational drag bleeding into your settlement process. Assets can move with real speed, cutting through the inefficiencies that plague traditional systems.

This becomes critical when you're looking at cross-chain interactions, institutional adoption, or any scenario where time literally translates to capital cost. The faster you finalize, the faster capital cycles. The faster capital cycles, the more efficient your entire system becomes.

So the next time someone talks about L1 performance metrics, ask them about finality. That's where the competitive advantage actually lives.