A spicy salvo launched in the monolithic vs modular debate

Blockworks
Blockworks

20 Nov 2023 2:05 PM

“The whole point of a public blockchain is lost if you are not resistant for the worst-case scenarios,” Polynya says....

  • The article discusses the importance of resistance to worst-case scenarios in public blockchains.
  • It mentions the ongoing infrastructure development in the blockchain space during the 2022-2023 bear market.
  • The article highlights the two main approaches to scaling blockchains: modular (represented by Ethereum and Cosmos) and monolithic (represented by Solana).
  • It references an essay by Polynya, an Ethereum advocate, critiquing monolithic blockchains, which is interpreted as a veiled critique of Solana.
  • The article notes the growing interest in Solana due to a significant price surge in its native crypto asset (SOL).
  • While Solana is praised for its transaction speed and low fees, it has faced criticism for network instability and high hardware requirements.
  • Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana, acknowledges network flaws but believes they can be mitigated.
  • Yakovenko plans to launch Firedancer, the first independent validator client software for Solana, in mid-2024 to increase throughput.
  • Yakovenko argues that natural growth in computing power and falling hardware costs will handle Solana's needs.

The article discusses both positive and negative aspects of Solana and its approach to scaling. While Solana is praised for its transaction speed and low fees, it has faced criticism for network instability and high hardware requirements. However, Anatoly Yakovenko remains optimistic about Solana's growth and believes that its challenges can be overcome.

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You May Ask

What is the importance of resistance to worst-case scenarios in public blockchains?What are the two main approaches to scaling blockchains mentioned in the article?Why is Polynya's essay interpreted as a critique of Solana?What are some of the challenges faced by Solana, according to the article?How does Anatoly Yakovenko plan to increase Solana's throughput in the future?

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