In this article, we delve into the nuanced compositions of the Top 11 blockchain platforms, emphasising their foundational significance in the cryptocurrency space. Through a rigorous evaluation grounded on both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, this piece, written by our team of experts, aims to shed light on how these blockchains are the most promising blockchain platforms with what we believe may have the highest potential for your portfolio.
To understand blockchain platforms , we need to closely examine their technical features, how they interact with their environment, and how they're being adopted. At their core, blockchains allow information to be shared directly between users without the need for a central authority to oversee the process. High-quality blockchains have strong security and can efficiently validate open transactions. The highest potential blockchains offer strong security and can quickly approve open transactions. They also have many practical uses in the real world.
Here, we carefully review each blockchain, looking at its technical strength and how active its community is. We judge based on the following criteria:
Usually, tokens with low progress scores are left out because they show signs of no activity or slow growth. Tokens that seem promising but have low scores get a closer look to find any unusual factors. The partnership score gives extra information but isn't more important than the other two measures.
Chain Score 1.7/2.: As the original blockchain platform, Bitcoin , created by the anonymous Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, pioneered the concept of a decentralised digital currency with a capped supply of 21 million coins.This score reflects the growing traction of its NFTs , known as Ordinals. However, there are centralisation concerns, especially with two major conglomerates controlling over 51% of the hashrate. The upcoming halving event could pose challenges to mining profitability, which might further intensify centralisation issues. Even though Bitcoin's energy-intensive Proof of Work has been a target for environmentalists, the cryptocurrency remains steadfast and continues to effectively serve its purpose.
The community sentiment analysis 1/1 gives Bitcoin a full score of 1 out of 1, highlighting the strong community support that recognises Bitcoin's foundational status in the crypto world, often likening it to digital gold. Lastly, in terms of Token Utility & Tokenomics, Bitcoin scores a full mark, underpinned by its renowned hard-capped supply of 21 million BTCs and a design that ensures diminishing inflation over time.
Team Analysis Scores 0.5/1: When it comes to the team behind Bitcoin, the score is 0.5 out of 1, primarily because its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, is still shrouded in mystery.
Token Utility & Tokenomics 1/1: Bitcoin scores a full mark, underpinned by its renowned hard-capped supply of 21 million BTCs and a design that ensures diminishing inflation over time.
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score 1.9/2: Ethereum , launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, emerged as the first blockchain platform to introduce smart contracts, enabling developers to build decentralised applications (dApps) on its blockchain.
Ethereum has recently incorporated Shapella and has outlined Cancun and EIP 4844 (Proto-Danksharding) in its roadmap, introducing a new transaction type termed 'blob'. Progress is also being made on account abstraction. Boasting a TVL (Total Value Locked) of $28 billion, it embodies 58% of the aggregate TVL. The Ethereum Foundation champions development via its grant initiative. Crucial metrics encompass 196 core developers (30-day average), 1.4K code commits (30-day total), and an annual revenue tallying to $2.78 billion.
Team Analysis receives a score of 0.9/1: Ming Chan (Former Executive Director of the Foundation), Jeffrey Wilcke and Vitalik Buterin (Co-founders), along with Jeremy Wood (early involvement) are noteworthy individuals. Kryptview awards the team a commendable score of 3 out of 4.
Community Sentiment Analysis is at 0.8/1: Lunar Crush data reflects a strong social presence with leading mentions and over 2.93B social engagements. Kryptview appraises Ethereum's community traction at a solid 3.2 out of 4.
Token Utility & Tokenomics achieves a perfect 1/1: ETH operates as a medium for governance, gas fees, and staking, sans any vesting period. Token distribution is delineated as: 50% dispersed to the community through ICO, 5% allocated to the Ethereum Foundation, 5% to early contributors, with the remaining 40% apportioned to miners.
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score 1.5/2: Arbitrum , developed by Offchain Labs, stands out as a scalable Layer 2 blockchain platform that implements Rollups technology to significantly enhance Ethereum's transaction throughput while maintaining a strong level of security and decentralisation.
A recent revelation on Twitter heralds the launch of a grant program in the near future. Arbitrum has already allocated $120 million in ARB tokens to endeavours proliferating on its framework. A notable 44% of ARB tokens are securely locked, with a release schedule set to commence in March 2024. Over the preceding 30 days, the project has engaged an average of 26.5 core developers, marking 301 code commits and registering an annualised revenue stream of $2.43 million.
Team Analysis holds a score of 0.85/1: The vanguard of Arbitrum is spearheaded by distinguished personnel. Ed Felten, a co-founder and the Chief Scientist, embarked on his roll-up research journey in 2014. After a tenure as Deputy U.S. CTO under President Obama, he rejoined Princeton University, joining forces with Steven Goldfeder and Harry Kalodner, who are the other linchpins in Arbitrum's foundational team.
Community Sentiment Analysis lands at 0.7/1: The initial fervour surrounding Arbitrum has ebbed. This insight is derived from Lunar Crush data, albeit Kryptview metrics remain elusive.
Token Utility & Tokenomics score is at 0.3/1: The cardinal utilities of ARB encompass governance and staking rewards, while gas fees are transacted in ETH. A substantial 45% tranche, encompassing team and investor holdings, is slated for unlocking in March 2024. The apportionment of 27% to the team & advisors and 18% to investors tilts towards a higher bracket. However, the extended vesting continuum stretching to another year brings reassurance.
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score 1.4/2: Solana emerges as a high-performance blockchain platforms designed for decentralised applications and crypto-currencies, boasting a unique architecture known as the Solana Protocol which leverages a combination of Proof of History (PoH) and Proof of Stake (PoS) mechanisms to achieve unprecedented scalability and speed while maintaining a secure and decentralised network infrastructure.Solana novel Proof of History technology, guarantees remarkable scalability. While the roadmap may not be heavily populated, there's a pronounced focus on amplifying interoperability. Boasting a Total Value Locked (TVL) of $266 million and a robust framework that's endured real-world tests, Solana is forging ahead. They've exhibited a proactive stance with grants, and key metrics reveal an average of 81 core developers engaged over the last 30 days, 600 code commits during the same period, and an annualised revenue of $7.29 million.
Team Analysis holds a score of 0.7/1: The helm of Solana is steered by co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko, with substantial contributions flowing from Raj Gokal. Their team’s expertise shines through, as reflected by a promising Kryptview score of 3.1 out of 4.
Community Sentiment Analysis stands at 0.9/1: The Solana community is pulsing with enthusiasm and engagement, a narrative supported by Lunar Crush data that captures 461K social mentions and a staggering 1.68B social engagements. Kryptview bestows a perfect score on them for traction and community resonance.
Token Utility & Tokenomics rests at 0.5/1: SOL tokens exhibit versatility, serving as a medium for governance, gas fees, and staking. The token distribution is well-orchestrated, with the community clutching 38.9%, trailed by various sales and the team’s share. The cumulative allocation for the team and foundation is judicious, showcasing a balanced distribution driven by Ava Labs, the adept team at the forefront.
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score 1.8/2: Polkadot , conceived by Ethereum co-founder Dr. Gavin Wood, manifests as a multi-chain blockchain platform that enables different blockchains to transfer messages and value in a trust-free fashion, seeking to make a web where our data is our own and isn’t stored on a server owned by an intermediary company.
Polkadot showcases a technical marvel with its focus on cross-chain development. It's constructed on a bedrock of a foundational Relay Chain, crowned with Parachains . Marching forward is the XCMP, Polkadot's cross-chain message passing protocol, flanked by the introduction of parathreads, a distinctive parachute variant that forgoes auctioning in favour of renting. With a Total Value Locked (TVL) of $185 million ensconced in its parachains and the benevolent grant wave from the foundation, supplemented by projects like Moonbeam and Edgeware, Polkadot shows much promise. With an average cadre of 158 core developers over the last 30 days, 1.64K code commits within the same breath, and an annualised revenue of $2.3 million, painting a lively developmental tapestry.
Team Analysis registers at 0.9/1: Steering the helm is co-founder Gavin Wood, also a co-architect of Ethereum and the brain behind the Solidity language. In concert are co-founders Peter Czaban and Robert Habermeier, adding to the robust armoury of Polkadot’s team. The entwined endeavours of Gavin Wood's Parity and the birthed Web3 foundation are cardinal players. This technical brigade's acumen is mirrored in a Kryptview score of 3.5 out of 4, reflecting a strong and capable leadership.
Community Sentiment Analysis is at 0.8/1: Polkadot’s community is a beehive of activity and engagement, with Lunar Crush data unfurling 20.8K social mentions and 47M social engagements. Kryptview tips its hat with a laudable score of 3.5 out of 4, underlining substantial traction and a hearty community presence.
Token Utility & Tokenomics, gauging at 0.9/1: The DOT tokens don several hats— governing the realm, fueling gas fees, anchoring staking, Parachain Loan Offerings, parachain rentals, and Parachain Auctions. The token allocation unfurls a balanced tableau: 50% earmarked for the community, 8.4% cradled by private sale investors, 11.6% nestled with the Foundation, and a substantial 30% bestowed upon the Web3 foundation for Polkadot's blossoming. This astute distribution dovetailed with the tokens’ myriad utilities, accentuates its pivotal role in the thriving ecosystem.
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score is 1.8/2: Polygon , co-founded by Jaynti Kanani, Sandeep Nailwal, and Anurag Arjun, emerged as a framework for building and connecting Ethereum-compatible blockchain platforms, amalgamating flexibility, scalability, and superior user experience to resolve challenges associated with Ethereum's blockchain, thus fostering a collaborative and functional multi-chain ecosystem.
Polygon's technology framework is notable, featuring a Plasma chain and the upcoming zkEVM chain. They are in the development phase of Polygon Miden, a ZK-optimised rollup, and are launching Polygon ID, an identity system. Their joint initiatives on the Polygon SuperNet with industry frontrunners underline their dedication to technological advancements. With a Total Value Locked (TVL) of $1 billion, a solid grant program from the foundation, and the backing of Polygon Ventures, they maintain a strong market stance. The network demonstrates solidity with 40 core developers, substantial business development efforts, and remarkable financial metrics, generating $67 million in annualised fees and over $50 million in annual revenue.
Team Analysis scores 0.85/1: Polygon’s team exhibits transparency and a wealth of experience, meriting a Kryptview score of 3.5 out of 4.
Community Sentiment Analysis is 1/1: The community's interaction with Polygon is markedly visible. Data from Lunar Crush showcases 220K social mentions and 701M social engagements, with Kryptview awarding a flawless score of 4 out of 4 for traction and community engagement.
Token Utility & Tokenomics 0.7/1: POL tokens serve multiple purposes, being utilised for governance, gas fees, and staking. The token allocation is outlined as follows: 23% for the ecosystem, 22% for the foundation, 19% for the Binance IEO, 16% for the team, 12% for staking rewards, and 4% each for advisors and private investors. While the allocation to the team is somewhat elevated, the distribution overall mirrors a balanced approach towards fostering a healthy token ecosystem.
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score 1.8/2: Optimism , spearheaded by a team of proficient developers, presents a layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, utilising Optimistic Rollups to ameliorate both throughput and latency, while retaining a strong alignment with Ethereum's security, composability, and decentralisation. This innovative approach underscores Optimism's commitment to solving the scalability conundrum, augmenting the overall efficacy and accessibility of the Ethereum blockchain platforms. Optimism harnesses the power of Optimistic Rollups, a state-of-the-art scaling remedy utilising off-chain computation to record transactions trustlessly while upholding Ethereum's robust security umbrella. This foundation atop Ethereum ensures a formidable security shield where all transactions receive the stamp of finality on the Ethereum mainnet. The advent of Bedrock, a remarkable upgrade for the Optimism network, embarks on a journey of enhanced capabilities, showcasing the protocol’s forward-leaning stance. An active grant program from the protocol underscores its zeal for nurturing innovation and propelling growth.
Team Analysis tallies at 0.25/1: The cloak of anonymity shrouds the Optimism team, with a Kryptview score of 2.2 out of 4 hinting at a quest for greater transparency and community trust. The path towards revealing the faces behind the venture might harbor the potential to bridge the trust chasm.
Community Sentiment Analysis holds at 0.75/1: A journey through Lunar Crush data unveils a warm embrace from the social media sphere towards Optimism, echoed by a favorable score of 3.4 out of 4 from Kryptview, spotlighting strong community traction and engagement.
In Token Utility & Tokenomics, residing at 0.6/1: The OP token emerges as a pivotal player, diversifying its roles in governance, rewards distribution, and ecosystem nourishment. A notable unvesting wave of $OP tokens marked the dawn of June, revealing an anticipatory ambiance. The token allocation blueprint unveils a balanced strategy: 25% is channelled to the Ecosystem Fund, 19% earmarked for User Airdrops, 19% reserved for Core Contributors, 17% allocated to Investors, and a 20% share for RetroPGF, forming a well-structured tokenomic landscape
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score is 1.6/2: Avalanche , devised by an adept team led by Emin Gün Sirer, manifests a novel blockchain platform employing a unique consensus protocol to attain high throughput and low latency. By amalgamating pioneering technology with a strong developmental backbone, Avalanche is steering towards a more scalable and accessible blockchain landscape, aspiring to bridge the existing gap between decentralised finance (DeFi) and traditional financial mechanisms. Avalanche is architecturally segmented into three distinct chains: X-Chain, focusing on asset management; C-Chain, dedicated to smart contracts and operating on the Snowman consensus; and P-Chain, coordinating validators. Despite benefiting from DAG optimisation, the 2024 roadmap appears relatively unclear. The protocol currently prioritises ZK proofs and has amassed a TVL of $800 million, contributing 1.66% to the total TVL. The foundation’s active grant program, along with core development metrics — averaging 40 developers over 30 days and 912 code commits — underscores a dynamic ecosystem.
Team Analysis scores 0.9/1: Avalanche operates transparently, with team members holding strong educational backgrounds and substantial field experience. Kryptview assigns a score of 3.5 out of 4, underlining their credibility.
Community Sentiment Analysis is 0.9/1: Lunar Crush data displays a predominantly positive sentiment towards Avalanche, with Kryptview awarding a perfect score of 4 out of 4 for community traction and engagement.
In Token Utility & Tokenomics 0.5/1: AVAX tokens are integral for governance, gas fees, and staking. A gradual vesting of 5% of the tokens is planned over the next six months. Token allocation is structured as follows: 50% for staking rewards, 10% for the team, 9.26% for the foundation, 8.3% for Public Sale 2, 7% for community and development, 5% for strategic partners, 3.5% for private sale, 2.5% each for seed sale and airdrop, 1% for public sale, 0.67% for Public Sale 3, and 0.27% for the testnet incentive program.
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score is 1.5/2: Aptos, spearheaded by a proficient team including Mo Shaikh and Avery Ching, presents a burgeoning blockchain platform leveraging the Move smart contract language to enhance scalability and security. By capitalising on pivotal partnerships, like the one with Microsoft, and the seasoned expertise of its team derived from high-profile organisations, Aptos aims to pioneer in providing a trustworthy blockchain infrastructure for contemporary AI applications, showcasing a fine blend of blockchain innovation and real-world utility.
Aptos is often referenced as a potential competitor to Solana, focusing on scalability and security, albeit at the expense of decentralisation. The platform utilises the smart contract language "Move," developed by Meta, and gains significant value from its recent collaboration with Microsoft for training AI models using verified blockchain information from Aptos. The platform does not prioritise interoperability with other chains but instead aims for integration with tech industry leaders. It shares members with the former Diem project team and bears similarities to the Sui project, leading some to view it as a de facto continuation of the latter.
Team Analysis scores 0.8/1: Aptos was initiated by Mo Shaikh and Avery Ching, both boasting extensive expertise from their tenure at reputable entities such as BlackRock, Consensys, Meta, and Los Alamos laboratories (linked to the US military).
Community Sentiment 0.5/1: Aptos maintains an active online presence, albeit with a choice of restricting AMAs to Discord without recording provisions, which has been unfavourably received. This, combined with relatively moderate social media engagement, has dampened the overall community sentiment.
Token Utility & Tokenomics 0.5/1: Aptos successfully garnered $350 million across two funding rounds, with FTX spearheading one of them. It's noteworthy that this is a VC-dominant project. Currently, about 170 billion tokens have been issued. The private investors' cliff is set to end this coming November, with token circulation expected to double by mid-Q2 2024, reaching 340 billion. There's a discernible lack of transparency in communication, and the substantial discounts offered to early investors have generated concerns. Moreover, the Aptos Foundation's ability to instantly stake their allocation and liquidate unlocked rewards monthly is perceived with scepticism
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score is 1.9/2: Cosmos , created by a skilled team of developers, aims to revolutionise the blockchain sector with its layered architecture, encompassing the Cosmos Hub, Tendermint Consensus, and Delegate application layer. Championing Inter Blockchain Communication (IBC) through Peg Zones, it seeks to seamlessly connect diverse blockchain platforms, showcasing a forward-thinking approach to resolving longstanding interoperability and scalability challenges. With a notable Total Value Locked (TVL) of $1 billion, Cosmos is emerging as a pivotal blockchain platform fostering cross-chain development and nurturing a dynamic ecosystem conducive for innovative blockchain integrations and advancements.
Cosmos is engineered for cross-chain development, structured with three distinct layers: the Cosmos Hub, interfacing all blockchains within Cosmos; Tendermint Consensus, the validator layer; and Delegate, the application layer. Cosmos utilises the IBC (Inter Blockchain Communication) protocol to connect blockchains via Peg zones, serving as interfaces between two blockchains. With a TVL (Total Value Locked) of $1 billion, and a suite of upcoming features notwithstanding the Cosmos 2.0 rejection, the platform's growth is noticeable. The heightened developer activity, illustrated by the foundation's grant program and core development metrics with an average of 178 developers over 30 days and 810 code commits, showcases a dynamic ecosystem.
Team Analysis scores 0.7/1: The Cosmos team exhibits partial transparency with verifiable LinkedIn profiles detailing their educational and professional trajectories. The backing from Tendermint foundation enhances its credibility. Kryptview allocates a score of 2.9 out of 4.
Community Sentiment Analysis is 0.9/1: Despite Lunar Crush suggesting moderate engagement, Kryptview awards a perfect score of 4 out of 4 to Cosmos for community traction and involvement.
In Token Utility & Tokenomics 0.9/1: ATOM tokens serve multiple purposes within governance, gas fees, and staking. The token allocation is delineated as follows: 67.9% for public contributors, 10% each for All in Bits Inc. and ICF (with a delegation program), 7.1% for strategic & early adopters, and 5% for seed contributors.
You can find the Score Card here .
Chain Score 1.3/2: NEAR Protocol , is a blockchain platform designed to enable seamless interactions and transactions among users. With its user-friendly interface and robust underlying technology, it aims to lower the barriers to blockchain adoption, fostering a more inclusive digital economy. Through sharding and other scalable solutions, NEAR endeavours to provide a fast, secure, and efficient platform capable of supporting high-throughput applications without compromising on decentralisation or security. Its active developer community and the increasing adoption highlight NEAR's potential in significantly contributing to the evolution of the blockchain ecosystem. Unveiled in 2020, NEAR Protocol is powered by an Adaptive Proof of Stake mechanism, making a developer-friendly environment a reality. It provides a fertile ground for serverless applications and smart contracts, easing integration into open finance networks with a bouquet of open web components. Its Nightshade sharding design is a standout, enabling parallel block processing which is a significant step toward scalability. The protocol's vibrant development activity is illuminated by an active grant program and compelling core development metrics, noting an average of 74.90 developers over the past 30 days and a sturdy 1010 code commits.
Team Analysis holds at 0.7/1: NEAR’s team is an open book, boasting solid educational foundations and a wealth of experience in the domain. Their Kryptview score of 3 out of 4 underscores their standing in the blockchain community.
Community Sentiment Analysis resides at 0.6/1: Although Lunar Crush data might hint at a more restrained community sentiment, Kryptview paints a brighter picture with a high score of 3.8 out of 4, celebrating community traction and engagement.
Token Utility & Tokenomics is at 0.4/1: NEAR tokens play a crucial role in governance, gas fees, and staking, laying the foundation of a robust blockchain ecosystem. The token allocation is judiciously dispersed: 34.64% is earmarked for the Foundation Endowment, 17.20% is allocated for Community Grants and Programs, 14% goes to Core Contributors, 12% is set aside for the Community Sale, 11.76% is dedicated to Early Ecosystem initiatives, and 11.40% is devoted to Operations Grants, illustrating a balanced and forward-thinking tokenomic structure
You can find the Score Card here .
This analysis, conducted with both quantitative and qualitative methods, explores the distinct characteristics of the top 11 blockchain platforms and their native tokens. It's not designed to guide investment decisions, but to offer a structured framework for understanding each blockchain platform's dynamics better. Blockchain platforms are the foundation of crypto and their impact is essential in the growth of the space. By recognising the unique factors, individuals can navigate the cryptocurrency and DeFi landscape with more clarity, aiding in investment decision-making.
Stay tuned for SwissBorg's upcoming Best Blockchains Thematic, where you can invest in each of the above top blockchain platforms with a single tap, and benefit from automatic rebalancing and reallocation in response to market shifts.
Disclaimer: This article only reflects the opinion of its authors. It is not meant to provide any investment advice. The Company shall not be held liable for any loss or damage which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on information from this article. Readers should carry out their own analysis.