I just realized that many people are still confused about what TPS is and why this number is so important in the blockchain world. Actually, it’s the key to understanding why some blockchain networks can process transactions quickly while others are much slower.



What is TPS? Simply put, it’s the number of transactions a blockchain network can handle per second. This number directly affects speed, scalability, and user experience. To have a benchmark for comparison, traditional payment systems like VISA can process about 1,500 to 2,000 transactions per second — that’s the standard that blockchains are trying to surpass.

Bitcoin and Ethereum, two giants in the industry, historically manage around 5 and 10 TPS respectively. This isn’t because they are inferior, but because they prioritize decentralization and security over raw speed. That’s a balance not everyone understands.

But why is TPS important? It’s simple — it determines whether a blockchain application can operate efficiently at scale. For DeFi, NFTs, blockchain gaming, anything that requires real-time processing, high TPS is necessary. If TPS is low, users have to wait, transactions get congested, and the experience becomes poor. No one wants to use an app where they have to wait 10 minutes for a transaction to complete.

Some blockchains have made significant progress. Hedera leads with about 1,909 TPS currently, with a maximum of up to 3,287 TPS. Solana isn’t far behind with 777 TPS now and a maximum of 1,624 TPS. Tron is at 91 TPS, opBNB can reach up to 4,762 TPS maximum, and BNB Chain is around 52 TPS. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

But here’s the issue: to increase TPS, you usually have to make trade-offs. Optimizing block size, changing consensus algorithms, using off-chain solutions — all of these can impact decentralization and security. That’s why no blockchain can have everything.

Overall, for a blockchain to be widely adopted, we need to find the perfect balance between high transaction speed, strong security, and true decentralization. Those interested in the performance of different blockchains can follow these numbers on Gate to see which projects are developing the fastest.
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