Overview
Celo was launched in 2020 as a mobile-first Layer 1 blockchain designed to advance global financial inclusion through smartphone-accessible crypto payments and phone number-based addressing. Built on proof-of-stake consensus with a commitment to carbon neutrality, Celo's L1 featured fast, low-cost transactions and native stablecoins like cUSD that powered a vibrant DeFi ecosystem.
In 2024, Celo began migrating from its Layer 1 architecture to become an Ethereum Layer 2 network built on the OP-Stack. This migration aimed to achieve greater scalability and interoperability while preserving Celo's core mission and complete transaction history. The migration was completed in March 2025 at block 31,056,500.
This section documents the historical Celo Layer 1 blockchain before its completed migration to Layer 2 and does not reflect Celo's current L2 architecture.