Layer 1 projects typically emphasize performance competition—higher throughput, faster settlement, lower fees. But Alephium takes a different route.

Instead of racing purely on speed metrics, Alephium prioritizes coordination as its core layer design. This philosophy reshapes how the network handles consensus, validator participation, and cross-shard communication.

The distinction matters: a coordination-first architecture naturally encourages network participants to work toward collective optimization rather than individual chain advantage. This isn't just another L1 with marginally better specs—it's a fundamentally different approach to blockchain organization.

Worth thinking about as more projects reconsider what "layer 1" actually means.