The Certified Crypto Market blog

Crypto, explained.
Scams, exposed.

Plain-English guides to protect your money: how to research a project, spot a scam, store coins safely and understand every major cryptocurrency.

4 articles for “blockchain basics” · clear

What Are Layer 1 and Layer 2 Blockchains?

Layer 1 vs layer 2 explained: what base blockchains and scaling networks are, how rollups work, the trade-offs in security and fees, and the risks to watch.

Oct 10, 2026 · 5 min read

What Is a Smart Contract?

What is a smart contract? Learn how self-executing blockchain programs work, what they power, their limits and risks, and how to check one before you use it.

Oct 4, 2026 · 5 min read

Proof of Work Explained

Proof of work explained simply: how mining secures blockchains like Bitcoin, why it uses energy, how difficulty adjusts, and its main risks and criticisms.

Oct 3, 2026 · 5 min read

What Is a Blockchain and How Does It Work?

What is blockchain? A plain-English guide to blocks, hashes, nodes and consensus, with what blockchains are good at, where they fall short and key risks.