9/16/21, 2:28 PM Layer-1 Platforms: A Framework for Comparison

RESEARCH RESEARCH

Layer-1 Platforms: A Framework for Comparison

by The Block Research

August 11, 2021, 1:18PM EDT

 · 
1 min read

The Block Research was commissioned by Algorand and the Algorand Foundation to create Layer-1 Platforms:
A Framework for comparison, which provides a “look under the hood” at seven platforms: Algorand,
Avalanche, Binance Smart Chain, Cosmos, Ethereum/Ethereum 2.0, Polkadot, and Solana. We assess their
technical design, related ecosystem data, and qualitative factors such as key ecosystem members to get an
understanding of how they differ. Having done this analysis, we draw some insights for what the future of the
broader smart contract landscape could look like for years to come.  

From explaining consensus algorithms in plain english to opining on the blockchain energy consumption debate
to analyzing on-chain metrics, we cover a lot of ground in this report. Data, and lots of it, guides the way. 

You can learn more about the report and complete the form below to download the report in its entirety. 

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9/16/21, 2:28 PM Layer-1 Platforms: A Framework for Comparison

Six years after the inception of Ethereum, we have seen the revolutionary impact of general purpose
blockchains on full display. Foremost, in the financial sphere with the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi).
Secondly, in the cultural sphere with the explosion of activity around non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

But anyone who has been closely following knows that we have only scratched the surface of discovering what
experiences general purpose blockchains are capable of delivering. 
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And while the term “Ethereum killer” has fallen out of favor, the pace of development in the Layer 1 platform
arena has only accelerated over the past years. Dozens of platforms have emerged. 

Some are seeking to offer an easily adoptable alternative to Ethereum and challenge its status as the de-facto
choice for launching decentralized applications. Others are focused on giving developers the highest level of
flexibility in building their own blockchains and creating cross-chain communication protocols. 

With each passing year, a “one blockchain to rule them all” outcome fades further and further into the
rearview. But analyzing these different platforms remains challenging. 

They are surrounded by technical jargon. Digestible comparisons amongst them are few and far between. Yet
they already compose a significant portion of the “investable crypto landscape” and are poised to support
ecosystems orders of magnitude larger than what we have seen to date. Analyzing them will be an important
task for years to come.

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Analyzing smart contract platforms outside of the context of Ethereum is difficult. Analyzing Ethereum outside
of the context of Bitcoin is equally difficult. So, this report starts with a brief introduction to Bitcoin before
diving into the current state of Ethereum. 

© 2021 The Block Crypto, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used
as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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