HOW DO LAYER 2S REALLY DIFFER FROM EXECUTION SHARDING?

Summary from the TLDR Crypto newsletter

While layer 2s and execution sharding may seem like opposite strategies for blockchain scaling, they share the same underlying technologies, such as data sharding, fraud proofs, and cross-communication solutions. The primary difference is that L2s allow for greater creativity and independent innovation, with each L2 having its own rules, while shards are protocol-level. The L2-centric ecosystem does face coordination challenges, smart contract wallet support, and decentralized validation infrastructure.