Top Layer 1 Blockchains: Bitcoin, Solana List

Layer 1 blockchains form the foundation of cryptocurrency ecosystems, with Bitcoin and Solana standing out among top options for their distinct strengths in security and speed. This comparison evaluates Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum, and other leading Layer 1 platforms like Cardano, Avalanche, Polkadot, Sui, Aptos, Near Protocol, and Kaspa to help you select the best fit for storing value, building dApps, or trading at scale. factors include transaction speeds, fees, consensus mechanisms, and real world use cases drawn from 2025 performance data.

Bitcoin remains the original Layer 1 blockchain, launched in 2009 as a decentralized store of value with unmatched security through Proof of Work consensus.

Miners worldwide secure the network by solving complex puzzles, processing around 7 transactions per second at an average fee of $2.50, with block times averaging 10 minutes. Its fixed supply caps at 21 million coins, driving scarcity and long term holding appeal.

• Thousands of global miners ensure top tier decentralization and attack resistance.
• Energy intensive PoW limits scalability but prioritizes immutability.
• Ideal for inflation hedges, yet fees spike during congestion.
• No native smart contracts, focusing purely on peer to peer electronic cash.

Hold Bitcoin in cold storage for years; avoid frequent transfers to minimize fees that can exceed $10 in high demand periods.

Solana

Transaction throughput: Solana handles up to 65,000 TPS theoretically, with real world speeds of 3,000-5,000 TPS and 400ms block times via Proof of History and Proof of Stake.

Average fees sit at $0.00025 per transaction, enabling microtransactions in DeFi and NFTs without friction. Fees burn a portion of SOL, adding deflationary pressure to its variable supply growing at 1.5-4.5% annually.

• Supports booming ecosystems in gaming, memecoins, and high frequency trading.
• Parallel processing cuts latency for real time apps.
• Hardware demands for validators raise centralization flags.
• Past outages highlight reliability gaps versus Bitcoin.
• 87% of new tokens launched on tracked platforms in 2025.

Stake SOL for 5-7% yields but monitor network stability; use lightweight wallets for daily DeFi interactions to leverage sub penny costs.

Ethereum Layer 1

Ethereum powers the majority of DeFi and smart contracts since 2015, now fully Proof of Stake post Merge for energy efficiency.

Base layer processes 30 TPS with fees ranging $0.50-$5, though Layer 2 rollups drop effective costs under $0.01. Annual issuance limits to 18 million ETH, with EIP-1559 burning base fees to combat inflation.

• Dominant dApp platform with billions in locked value.
• Validator staking requires 32 ETH minimum for full nodes.
• Scales via optimistic and ZK rollups for thousands of TPS.
• Less volatile than Solana at around 60% realized volatility.

Bridge assets to Layer 2 like Arbitrum for cheap trades; participate in governance via staked ETH to influence upgrades.

Cardano

How scalable is Cardano? It achieves 250 TPS on its Ouroboros Proof of Stake, with fees averaging $0.15 thanks to eUTXO model for predictable costs.

• Peer reviewed research backs every upgrade, emphasizing sustainability.
• Hydra heads promise 1 million TPS off chain.
• Growing in Africa for identity and remittances.
• Slower smart contract rollout compared to rivals.
• Stake pools yield 3-5% with low barriers.

Delegate ADA to pools without locking funds; test Basho scaling phase apps cautiously as mainnet evolves.

Avalanche

Avalanche processes 4,500 TPS across its primary network, with subnets enabling custom Layer 1s at $0.01 fees using Snowman consensus.

Sub second finality suits institutional DeFi, where platforms like Aave deploy for speed. Validators stake 2,000 AVAX minimum.

• Interoperable subnets for gaming or enterprise chains.
• Energy efficient PoS variant.
• High throughput without sharding complexity.
• Competition from modular chains pressures adoption.

Launch a subnet for private projects; watch gas auctions during volatile markets to optimize costs.

Polkadot

Polkadot connects parachains for shared security, hitting 1,000 TPS aggregate at $0.07 fees via Nominated Proof of Stake.

• Relay chain coordinates 100+ parachains like Moonbeam.
• Crowdloans fund parachain slots for months.
• Cross consensus messaging bridges ecosystems.
• Auctions create scarcity for slots.
• DOT staking yields 10-15% via nominations.

Bid DOT in crowdloans for rewards; build on parachains like Astar for Ethereum compatibility.

Sui

Sui's object centric data model delivers 297,000 peak TPS with $0.001 fees, using Narwhal Tusk for parallel execution in Move language.

Designed for gaming and social apps, it processes non conflicting transactions independently. Low validator hardware needs boost participation.

• Instant finality under 400ms.
• NFT and game asset ownership streamlined.
• Early ecosystem but rapid 2025 growth.
• Less battle tested than Ethereum.

Develop Move modules for composable assets; use sponsored transactions to waive user fees in dApps.

Aptos

Execution engine: Aptos runs 160,000 TPS via Block STM parallel processing, fees at $0.0001, building on Meta's Diem tech with Move VM.

Focuses on Web3 social and high volume apps, with pipelined consensus for low latency.

• SocialFi hubs like Chingari migrate here.
• State sync for fast node bootstraps.
• High staking APY around 7%.
• Centralized roots spark debates.
• Developer grants accelerate builds.

Integrate with Backpack wallet for Aptos trades; audit smart contracts rigorously given youth.

Near Protocol

Near shards into Nightshade for 4,000 TPS at $0.01 fees, human readable accounts easing onboarding.

Thresholded PoS needs 150k NEAR slashed minimum for validators. BOS loader simplifies dApp deployment.

• Fast finality in 1-2 seconds.
• AI and chain abstraction focus.
• Refi tools for real world assets.

Mint custom tokens via NEAR's CLI; scale with dynamic sharding as user base grows.

Kaspa

Kaspa's BlockDAG allows 10,000 TPS at $0.0001 fees, confirming blocks every second via GHOSTDAG protocol.

Pure PoW like Bitcoin but parallel blocks eliminate orphans for speed.

• Instant confirmations for payments.
• Mining accessible with GPUs.
• No smart contracts yet.
• Emerging liquidity.

Mine KAS at home setups; pair with exchanges for quick fiat ramps.

Understanding Layer 1 Consensus Mechanisms

Layer 1 blockchains rely on consensus to validate transactions securely. Bitcoin's Proof of Work demands computational puzzles for decentralization but caps speed at 7 TPS.

• Proof of Stake, as in Ethereum, selects validators by staked coins, slashing for misbehavior-energy savings over 99% versus PoW.
• Solana blends Proof of History timestamps with PoS for 65,000 TPS ordering without gossip delays.
• BlockDAG in Kaspa processes blocks in parallel, hitting 10,000 TPS without sacrificing PoW security.
• Avalanche uses repeated sub sampling for sub second consensus across subnets.

Choose PoS for efficiency in dApps; stick to PoW for proven immutability in value storage.

Layer 1 Scalability and Fees Explained

Scalability defines Layer 1 viability-Bitcoin's 7 TPS strains under demand, pushing fees to $2.50. Solana counters with $0.00025 fees via parallel execution.

• Ethereum's 30 TPS base expands via rollups to effective thousands TPS under $0.01.
• Sui and Aptos exceed 100,000 TPS peaks by isolating object states.
• Sharding in Near and Polkadot divides load for sustained 1,000+ TPS.
• Fee burning in Solana and Ethereum reduces supply over time.

High TPS suits gaming; low, stable fees favor payments.

How to Choose and Use Top Layer 1 Blockchains

1. Assess your needs: Pick Bitcoin for long term holding due to 21 million cap; opt for Solana if DeFi speed matters at sub cent fees.
2. Compare TPS and fees: Test Solana's 3,000+ TPS for NFT mints versus Ethereum's rollups for cheaper complex contracts.
3. Stake for yields: Lock 32 ETH on Ethereum or delegate SOL for 5-7% APY, monitoring slash risks.
4. Diversify across chains: Hold BTC for security, SOL for growth, DOT for interoperability.
5. Secure wallets: Use hardware for Bitcoin, multi sig for Solana to counter outage risks.
6. Monitor metrics: Track TPS on explorers like Solscan or Etherscan; watch validator counts for decentralization.
7. Build or interact: Deploy on Near's BOS for simplicity or Sui's Move for parallel assets.
8. Exit strategy: Sell high volatility SOL during rallies, hold BTC through cycles.