Everything about the Top Blockchains and Their Benefits!

Published in

Coinmonks

15 min readJun 22, 2023

Since the advent of blockchain technology, it has been blessed with various use cases that cater to different industries. With numerous networks making up the current ecosystem, the need to know the best arises. This is because both users and businesses want access to the best communities to have better prospects. Also, only such blockchains tend to have the scope for operation in the long run. q

Here, we will talk in detail about the top blockchain networks in the current decentralized space and their benefits. Get ready as we start embracing this next-gen innovation that could change how the daily world functions.

List of Top Blockchains in 2023

1. Ethereum
2. Polygon
3. BNB Chain
4. Solana
5. Bitcoin
6. Cardano
7. Avalanche
8. Tron
9. Tezos
10. Polkadot

Now, let’s see each network and its benefits in detail in the following sections.

Ethereum

The Ethereum blockchain is a decentralized, programmable network that enables the creation and execution of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). It was conceived by Vitalik Buterin in 2015 and has since become one of the most prominent blockchain networks.

At its core, Ethereum utilizes a decentralized network of computers, known as nodes, to validate and record transactions. This decentralized nature ensures that no single entity has control over the network, enhancing security, transparency, and trust.

Here are the key benefits of the Ethereum blockchain:

Smart Contracts: Ethereum introduced the concept of smart contracts, which are self-executing agreements with predefined conditions. Smart contracts enable automated transactions, eliminating third-party requirements that have enhanced efficiency in various industries.
Programmability: Ethereum’s blockchain is programmable, allowing developers to build and deploy dApps and custom tokens through its robust development framework. This programmability enables a wide range of applications, from decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), gaming, and more.
Interoperability: Ethereum has established standards, such as ERC-20 (for fungible tokens) and ERC-721 (for non-fungible tokens), which have become widely adopted. This interoperability allows for seamless integration and interaction between Ethereum-based projects and services, fostering innovation and collaboration within the
Decentralization and Security: Ethereum’s decentralized nature and consensus mechanism (transitioning from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake) provide high security and protection against malicious activities. The transparency of the blockchain allows for public audits and verification of transactions, further enhancing
Tokenization and Crowdfunding: Ethereum has revolutionized tokenization, allowing the creation and management of digital assets. Projects can raise funds by issuing tokens on the Ethereum blockchain through various crowdfunding modes. This innovation has democratized fundraising and opened new avenues for startups and
Vibrant Ecosystem and Community: Ethereum has an active community of developers, business owners, and supporters. This community contributes to the growth of the ecosystem by building new applications, improving existing infrastructure, and collaborating on research and development. The extensive ecosystem offers various tools, resources, and support for developers to create and deploy decentralized applications.

Polygon

Polygon, formerly Matic Network, is a Layer-2 scaling solution and framework built on the Ethereum blockchain. It aims to address Ethereum’s scalability issues by providing a more efficient and scalable infrastructure for decentralized applications (dApps).

Here’s an overview of the Polygon blockchain and its benefits:

Scalability: One of the primary benefits of Polygon is its scalability. By utilizing Layer 2 solutions, such as sidechains and plasma chains, Polygon significantly enhances the throughput of transactions, enabling faster and more efficient dApp operations compared to the Ethereum mainnet.
Low Transaction Fees: Polygon offers reduced transaction fees compared to the Ethereum network. With its Layer 2 solutions, transactions can be processed off-chain, lowering gas fees and making it more cost-effective for users and
Interoperability: Polygon is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), making it seamlessly compatible with existing Ethereum-based dApps and smart contracts. This interoperability allows projects to easily migrate or deploy their applications on Polygon without significant modifications.
Security: Polygon leverages Ethereum’s security by anchoring itself to the Ethereum mainnet through checkpoints. This ensures the integrity of the network and adds an extra layer of
Developer-Friendly: Polygon provides a developer-friendly ecosystem with robust tooling, documentation, and support. Developers can quickly build, test, and deploy dApps using familiar programming languages and tools, benefiting from the existing Ethereum developer
Diverse Use Cases: Polygon supports many use cases, including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), gaming, and more. Its scalability and cost-efficiency make it suitable for high-volume applications and
Community and Adoption: Polygon has gained significant adoption and has a growing community of developers and projects building on its infrastructure. This active ecosystem fosters collaboration and innovation, providing opportunities for developers and entrepreneurs.

BNB Chain

BNB Chain (Formerly Binance Smart Chain/BSC) is a blockchain developed by the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. It was designed as a parallel chain to the Binance Chain and aimed to provide a more scalable and efficient infrastructure for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts.

Here’s an overview of the BNB Chain and its benefits:

Scalability: BNB Chain offers higher transaction throughput and faster block confirmation times than Ethereum. Its consensus mechanism, known as Proof of Staked Authority (PoSA), allows for speedier block production, enabling a higher capacity for processing transactions.
Low Transaction Fees: The network provides significantly lower transaction fees than Ethereum. This cost-effectiveness makes it more accessible for users and developers, especially for applications that require frequent transactions or micropayments.
EVM Compatibility: BNB Chain is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), meaning developers can easily port their existing Ethereum-based dApps and smart contracts to the BSC platform. This interoperability enables seamless migration and broadens the scope of potential applications on the network.
Decentralization: While BNB Chain operates with fewer validators than Ethereum, it still maintains a level of decentralization through its consensus mechanism and validator node setup. The network aims to strike a balance between scalability and decentralization.
Binance Ecosystem Integration: The blockchain integrates with the broader Binance ecosystem, allowing easy access to Binance Chain assets and cross-chain transfers. This integration opens opportunities for leveraging existing Binance services, including trading, liquidity pools, and various financial products.
Vibrant DeFi Ecosystem: BNB Chain has gained significant traction in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. The platform hosts various DeFi protocols, including decentralized exchanges (DEXs), yield farming platforms, lending protocols, and more. The availability of diverse DeFi applications attracts users and developers to the Binance ecosystem.
Binance Support: Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally, supports and promotes BNB Chain. This backing provides a strong foundation for adoption, liquidity, and development support, attracting projects and users to the platform.

Solana

Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform that provides fast, secure, and scalable infrastructure for decentralized applications (dApps) and cryptocurrencies. It aims to address the scalability limitations other blockchain networks face, offering high throughput and low transaction costs.

Here’s an overview of the Solana blockchain and its benefits:

Scalability: Solana utilizes a unique combination of breakthrough technologies, including a Proof of History (PoH) consensus mechanism and a Tower BFT (Byzantine Fault Tolerance) consensus algorithm. These innovations allow Solana to process thousands of transactions per second, making it highly scalable and suitable for high-demand applications.
Fast Confirmation Times: Solana achieves quick block confirmation times, typically ranging from 0.4 to 1 second. This near-instant confirmation speed enables real-time interactions and seamless user experiences, making it ideal for applications that require quick transaction finality.
Low Transaction Costs: Solana boasts low transaction fees due to its high throughput and efficient network architecture. The platform is designed to maintain low costs even during periods of high network activity, ensuring affordability for users and developers.
Developer-Friendly Ecosystem: Solana provides a developer-friendly ecosystem with robust tooling, documentation, and support. It supports programming languages like Rust and C, making it accessible for developers with different backgrounds. Solana also offers compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing developers to leverage existing Ethereum smart contracts and tools.
Decentralization and Security: Solana maintains decentralization through its distributed network of validators. Its consensus algorithm ensures Byzantine fault tolerance, providing security against malicious activities and attacks. The protocol’s transparency and open-source nature allow for public audits and verification.
Interoperability: Solana aims to support cross-chain interoperability, allowing assets and data to be seamlessly transferred between different blockchains. This feature enables collaboration and connectivity across various blockchain ecosystems.
Growing Ecosystem and Adoption: Solana has experienced rapid growth, attracting diverse projects and developers. The platform hosts a thriving ecosystem of dApps, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, NFT marketplaces, and more. This growing adoption contributes to Solana’s network effects and liquidity.

Bitcoin

The Bitcoin blockchain is a decentralized and distributed ledger system that serves as the underlying technology for the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. It was introduced in 2008 by the pseudonymous person or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto.

Here’s an overview of the Bitcoin blockchain and its benefits:

Pioneering Blockchain Technology: The Bitcoin blockchain paved the way for developing subsequent blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies. It demonstrated the potential of a decentralized, trustless, and transparent system for peer-to-peer transactions, inspiring further innovation and adoption in the blockchain space.
Security: Bitcoin’s blockchain utilizes cryptographic techniques to secure transactions and data. The consensus mechanism, Proof of Work (PoW), ensures that transactions are validated and added to the blockchain securely and trustless. The decentralized network and transparency of the blockchain provide a high level of security against malicious activities.
Trust and Transparency: The Bitcoin blockchain offers transparency, as all transactions are recorded on a public ledger accessible to anyone. This transparency fosters trust in the system, as users can independently verify transactions and holdings.
Immutable and Tamper-Resistant: Once a transaction is confirmed and added to the Bitcoin blockchain, it becomes nearly impossible to alter or tamper with. This immutability ensures that the transaction history remains secure and trustworthy over time.
Financial Inclusion: Bitcoin’s blockchain enables financial inclusion by providing a decentralized and borderless means of transferring value. Individuals without access to traditional banking services can participate in the global economy and send/receive funds securely and instantly.
Store of Value: Bitcoin has emerged as a widely recognized store of value, akin to digital gold. The scarcity of Bitcoin, with a fixed supply of 21 million coins, and its decentralized nature make it a popular choice for individuals and institutions seeking a hedge against inflation or a long-term investment.
Ordinals and BRC-20 Tokens: With Bitcoin purely a community-run network, advancements like ordinals and BRC-20 tokens were unsurprising. While the former is an equivalent of NFTs, the latter is equivalent to fungible tokens. These applications expand the usage of Bitcoin, which, so far, was only used as a digital currency.

Cardano

Cardano is a blockchain that aims to offer a secure and scalable infrastructure for building decentralized applications (dApps) and the execution of smart contracts. It was founded by Charles Hoskinson, one of the co-founders of Ethereum, and is known for its focus on scientific research and rigorous peer-reviewed protocols.

Here’s an overview of the Cardano blockchain and its benefits:

Scalability: Cardano employs a layered architecture, separating the settlement layer responsible for handling cryptocurrency transactions from the computation layer that executes smart contracts. This design allows for scalability and efficient network performance.
Proof of Stake (PoS) Consensus: Cardano utilizes a unique PoS consensus algorithm called Ouroboros, which ensures network security and energy efficiency. PoS enables users who stake in the network’s native cryptocurrency, ADA, to participate in block validation and earn rewards.
Sustainability and Governance: Cardano introduces a treasury system that allocates a portion of ADA transaction fees to fund the development and maintenance of the blockchain. This self-sustaining model promotes long-term viability and supports ongoing ecosystem growth. Additionally, Cardano implements a robust governance model, allowing stakeholders to participate in the network’s decision-making processes.
Interoperability: Cardano facilitates flawless interoperability between various blockchains and legacy systems. Through its unique protocol, the Cardano Settlement Layer (CSL), Cardano allows the transfer of assets and data across different blockchains, enhancing connectivity and collaboration.
Academic Research and Peer Review: Cardano distinguishes itself through its commitment to scientific research and peer-reviewed protocols. It prioritizes evidence-based development and aims to ensure its blockchain’s security, scalability, and sustainability through rigorous scrutiny and academic collaboration.
Smart Contract Functionality: Cardano offers a robust, secure platform for executing smart contracts. It supports multiple programming languages and leverages formal verification methods to enhance security and reduce the risk of bugs or vulnerabilities in smart contracts

Avalanche

Avalanche is a decentralized blockchain that aims to provide fast, secure, and scalable infrastructure for developing decentralized applications (dApps) and the execution of smart contracts. It was introduced by Ava Labs in 2020 and is designed to overcome the scalability limitations of existing blockchain networks.

Here’s an overview of the Avalanche blockchain and its benefits:

High Throughput: Avalanche achieves high transaction throughput by utilizing a consensus protocol called Avalanche consensus. This protocol allows for parallel processing of transactions, resulting in fast block confirmations and high network scalability.
Low Latency: Avalanche offers low latency, enabling near-instant transaction finality. This feature makes Avalanche suitable for applications that require real-time interactions, such as decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
Scalability: Avalanche is designed to scale with the increasing demand for blockchain applications. Its unique consensus mechanism enables the network to handle many transactions per second, making it capable of supporting high-volume dApps and services.
Subnets and Custom Blockchains: Avalanche supports the creation of subnets and custom blockchains, allowing developers to launch their own independent networks while benefiting from Avalanche’s underlying security and consensus protocols. This flexibility enables developers to customize their blockchain solutions to meet specific requirements.
Interoperability: Avalanche aims to facilitate interoperability between different blockchain networks, enabling the seamless transfer of assets and data across ecosystems. This interoperability promotes collaboration, connectivity, and the exchange of value between disparate blockchain platforms.
Security and Resilience: Avalanche prioritizes security through its consensus protocol and utilizes a network of validators to ensure the integrity and safety of the blockchain. It is designed to withstand attacks and maintain resilience even in the presence of malicious actors.
Developer-Friendly: Avalanche provides a developer-friendly environment with comprehensive documentation, tooling, and support. It supports multiple programming languages and offers a range of developer resources to simplify the process of building and deploying dApps on the platform.

Tron

Tron is a blockchain that aims to create a decentralized internet by enabling the development and execution of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). It was founded by Justin Sun in 2017 and has gained significant attention for its focus on the entertainment industry.

Here’s an overview of the Tron blockchain and its benefits:

Scalability: Tron is designed to handle high transaction volumes with its delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism. This allows for faster block generation and high throughput, making it suitable for applications that require scalability.
High Availability: Tron aims to achieve high network availability by employing many Super Representatives (SRs) who validate transactions and secure the network. This decentralized approach ensures reliability and prevents single points of failure.
Cost Efficiency: Tron offers low transaction fees, enabling users to interact with dApps and perform transactions without incurring significant costs. This cost efficiency encourages user adoption and facilitates the growth of the ecosystem.
Developer-Friendly: Tron provides a developer-friendly environment with robust tooling, documentation, and support. It supports multiple programming languages, including Solidity and Java, making it accessible to developers with different backgrounds. Tron’s compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) allows for easy porting of existing Ethereum-based dApps.
Decentralized Entertainment Ecosystem: Tron focuses on the entertainment industry, aiming to disrupt traditional content distribution models. It provides artists, creators, and content consumers a platform to engage directly, eliminating intermediaries and enabling transparent and fair compensation.
High-profile Partnerships and Acquisitions: Tron has established strategic partnerships with prominent companies in the entertainment and technology sectors, expanding its reach and creating synergies for ecosystem growth. Notable acquisitions like BitTorrent further strengthen Tron’s position and user base.
Community Engagement: Tron has a large and active community participates in the platform’s governance and decision-making processes. Through community involvement, Tron fosters inclusivity and encourages contributions from its users.

Tezos

Tezos is a self-amending blockchain that aims to provide a secure and robust infrastructure for the development and execution of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Founded by Arthur and Kathleen Breitman in 2014, Tezos stands out for its on-chain governance model and emphasis on formal verification.

Here’s an overview of the Tezos blockchain and its benefits:

On-chain Governance: Tezos incorporates a unique self-amendment mechanism that allows stakeholders to participate in the decision-making process regarding network upgrades and protocol changes. This on-chain governance feature enables the platform to evolve and adapt over time without requiring hard forks, ensuring network stability and avoiding contentious community splits.
Formal Verification: Tezos strongly emphasizes formal verification, a rigorous method of ensuring the correctness and security of smart contracts and protocols. By leveraging formal verification techniques, Tezos aims to minimize the risks associated with coding errors and vulnerabilities, enhancing the reliability of its blockchain platform.
Liquid Proof-of-Stake (LPoS) Consensus: Tezos utilizes a delegated Proof of Stake (dPoS) consensus algorithm called Liquid Proof of Stake. LPoS enables stakeholders who hold Tezos tokens (XTZ) to participate in block validation and earn rewards. LPoS ensures network security and facilitates decentralization.
Upgradability and Flexibility: Tezos is designed to be highly upgradeable, allowing for protocol improvements and enhancements through community consensus. This flexibility ensures that the platform can adapt to emerging technologies and accommodate changing needs in the blockchain ecosystem.
Smart Contract Language: Tezos introduces a unique smart contract language called Michelson. Michelson is a domain-specific language that offers formal semantics and facilitates formal verification. It provides developers a secure and expressive language for writing smart contracts on the Tezos blockchain.
Robust Developer Tools and Community: Tezos provides a range of developer tools, libraries, and resources to support the development of dApps and smart contracts. The platform has an active and engaged developer community that contributes to the growth and innovation of the ecosystem.
Staking and Governance Rewards: Tezos incentivizes participation and engagement through staking and governance rewards. Token holders can stake their XTZ to secure the network and earn additional XTZ rewards for their contributions to the platform’s governance.

Polkadot

Polkadot is a multi-chain blockchain that allows interoperability between different networks. Founded by Gavin Wood, one of the co-founders of Ethereum, Polkadot aims to create a scalable and secure ecosystem for decentralized applications (dApps) and the transfer of value.

Here’s an overview of the Polkadot blockchain and its benefits:

Cross-Chain Interoperability: Polkadot facilitates seamless interoperability between blockchains, allowing them to communicate and share information. This interoperability enhances collaboration and the exchange of assets and data across disparate blockchain networks.
Scalability and Sharding: Polkadot addresses the scalability challenge by utilizing a sharding mechanism. It divides the network into multiple parallel chains, known as parachains, which can process transactions in parallel, significantly increasing throughput and network capacity.
Shared Security Model: Polkadot employs a shared security model, where all parachains in the ecosystem benefit from the security provided by the main Polkadot relay chain. This model ensures that the security of individual parachains is strengthened by the collective security of the entire network.
Customizability and Sovereignty: Polkadot allows developers to launch their own customized blockchains, known as parachains or parathreads, on the platform. This enables projects to have their own independent governance, economic models, and features while benefiting from the Polkadot network’s interoperability and security.
Upgradability and Governance: Polkadot implements a decentralized governance model that enables token holders to participate in decision-making. This on-chain governance allows for protocol upgrades and improvements without requiring hard forks, ensuring a smoother and more inclusive upgrade process.
Developer-Friendly Environment: Polkadot offers a developer-friendly ecosystem with comprehensive tooling, documentation, and support. It supports multiple programming languages and provides a range of developer resources to simplify the process of building and deploying dApps on the platform.
Ecosystem Growth and Collaboration: Polkadot has a growing ecosystem of projects and partnerships, fostering collaboration and innovation. It aims to create a vibrant community that contributes to the development and expansion of the Polkadot network.

Conclusion

Hence, we have seen the top blockchains and their benefits in detail. All these networks are unique in their own rights, as each possesses special qualities that make them unique. If you are looking for the best blockchain to create your own business application, consider working with an experienced company in blockchain development. All in all, it is essential to do your own research before choosing a blockchain for your venture. Developer documentation, statistical reports, professional consultation, and blogs from industry experts can help you with the process.