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chrisg23 | 7 months ago

You are both completely correct, and incorrect.

Here is a 4 year old example on how it is possible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bOo3zLFhEk

They are using the lightning network or some other "2nd layer" network that makes the transactions follow a different protocol that can include near instant settlement vs the 10 minutes per block and the payment only settles six blocks after it was written into the blockchain history. The protocol on the 2nd layer is different, but the units or tokens being transferred are indistinguishable from the tokens on the main blockchain, meaning the protocol for transferring to/from layer 1 to layer 2 do no allow for a coin to be minted out of thin air on the layer 2 protocol and then transferred to layer 1. It only allows for tokens minted on the main chain that were "transferred" to the 2nd layer to change hands between users (meaning addresses) on the 2nd layer.

There is a way to transfer a balance on the second layer back to the main chain, so as a merchant or user you can "withdraw" from the layer 2 to the main network whenever. There is a fee to transfer from the 1st layer to the second layer, and a fee to transfer back to the 1st layer, this is the regular fee that is imposed to do any transaction on the main chain since from the point of view of the bitcoin blockchain, "withdrawing" to a 2nd layer chain is just a special case of a regular transaction between two addresses on the main blockchain.

The very obvious downside that everyone knows and talks about is that the 2nd layer network is not at all decentralized, and as a user that "moves" tokens from the main layer to the second layer you are taking on the risk of the 2nd layer operator stealing all of your money.

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