List of the Top 7 Layer 1 Protocols for Grindery in 2025

Ethereum stands as a community-centric platform that underpins the cryptocurrency ether (ETH) alongside a diverse array of decentralized applications. This cutting-edge technology supports not only digital currency transactions but also facilitates global payments and a wide range of applications. Through the power of collaboration, the community has nurtured a dynamic digital economy, opening up new avenues for creators to monetize their work online and much more. With accessibility for anyone possessing an internet connection, Ethereum dismantles obstacles for billions who are either unbanked or encounter limitations on their financial dealings. Its decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem operates tirelessly and impartially, enabling users to send, receive, borrow, earn interest, and even stream funds across the globe. Unlike conventional internet services that often demand compromises on personal data privacy, Ethereum prioritizes transparency as a core tenet—requiring only a wallet for participation. By staking your ETH, you have the opportunity to act as a validator, playing a crucial role in safeguarding and upholding the integrity of this revolutionary platform. Consequently, Ethereum not only empowers individuals but also promotes a more inclusive financial landscape for all, inspiring innovation and creativity in the digital realm. As the platform evolves, it continues to attract a diverse range of participants eager to explore its limitless potential.

We focus on developing technology that ensures smooth financial transactions. As the trailblazers of the first-ever open and permissionless pure proof-of-stake blockchain protocol, we provide vital security, scalability, and decentralization without the necessity of forking, which are essential components for today’s economy. Our award-winning team assists traditional financial institutions as well as decentralized finance businesses in moving towards a space of simplified financial operations. This state-of-the-art technology establishes the foundation for groundbreaking applications, while our advanced smart contract functionalities enable decentralized finance solutions and decentralized applications that can handle billions of users and tens of millions of transactions each day, all at low fees. The Algorand Standard Assets provide customizable blockchain asset solutions on Layer-1, guaranteeing secure transfers and instant settlement for transactions involving multiple parties. This structure allows businesses to adopt decentralized financial practices with confidence, ultimately revolutionizing the finance sector. Furthermore, as we progress, our dedication to improving financial accessibility and operational efficiency is steadfast, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovation in this rapidly evolving field.

Build on Avalanche and unleash your creativity. This platform stands out as a highly adaptable and open environment for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. You can deploy Ethereum-based dapps here, benefiting from instant transaction confirmations and the ability to process thousands of transactions per second, far exceeding the performance of existing decentralized blockchains. Tailor blockchains to meet your unique application needs. You can establish your own virtual machine and set the operational parameters of your blockchain, allowing for a high degree of customization. By staking or locking your AVAX tokens, you actively participate in transaction processing and bolster the platform's security, offering assurances that surpass the conventional 51% threshold. Chances are, you already have the necessary hardware to engage with the platform effectively. Avalanche is fully compatible with Solidity, meaning all your favorite development tools—including Remix, Truffle, and Tenderly—will work smoothly. Additionally, the cost of deploying smart contracts on Avalanche is significantly reduced, at just one-tenth of Ethereum's fees, effectively addressing high gas expenditures, front-running concerns, and the challenges posed by slow smart contract blockchains. With its innovative features, Avalanche not only paves the way for a more accessible decentralized finance landscape but also enhances efficiency and scalability for developers and users alike. Embrace the future of finance with Avalanche and find new opportunities to innovate.

Flow is a cutting-edge blockchain framework designed to cater to the emerging generation of applications, games, and the digital assets that empower them. With a strong emphasis on providing a smooth user experience, Flow offers a solid groundwork for protocols and applications that can operate on an internet scale. Developed by the team behind CryptoKitties, Flow has been meticulously tested in collaboration with prominent global partners and is now accessible to anyone eager to engage and benefit from its features. Its performance has demonstrated reliability in practical applications, positioning it to foster the creation of solutions that align with user needs. This framework brings forth a simple feature that improves both the quality of software and the efficiency of the development process. Moreover, Flow integrates an intuitive programming language tailored for decentralized applications and digital assets, facilitating secure and clear bug resolutions while allowing for selective upgrades to smart contracts. Engineered for rapidity and effectiveness, Flow guarantees that global finality can be achieved in just seconds, making it an attractive option for developers. The transformative potential of Flow to redefine the digital realm is substantial, inviting visionaries to delve into its extensive capabilities. As the technology continues to evolve, it will likely inspire even more innovative applications and use cases.

Celo is a groundbreaking platform that aims to make financial tools accessible to anyone equipped with a mobile device. It establishes a global framework for payments that is tailor-made for mobile usage. This open-source initiative is backed by a diverse community of organizations and individuals who work together to enhance and govern the platform, empowering users to build applications that cross international boundaries. With efficient incentives for both light clients and full nodes, Celo can scale to accommodate up to 6 billion smartphones. The platform is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), facilitating an easy entry point for those new to the ecosystem. Furthermore, Celo includes a developing range of native stablecoins, such as Celo Dollars, which are tied to the values of various fiat currencies. Users have the option to pay transaction fees using stablecoins or personal tokens, offering them greater payment flexibility. The decentralized phone verification system enables seamless money transfers to any mobile number, thereby unlocking a wide range of global cash-in and cash-out options. For developers, Celo provides an array of robust tools that allow for exploration, innovation, and the launch of community-focused projects, thereby nurturing a dynamic ecosystem that champions financial inclusivity. Ultimately, Celo is reshaping the landscape of mobile finance, making it more accessible and versatile for users around the world. This transformative platform continues to evolve, promising even greater advancements in the future.

Gnosis Chain emerges as a frontrunner among Ethereum's sidechains, diligently maintaining its core values. It enables contributors worldwide to easily run nodes, fortified by a solid security framework that includes over 120,000 validators. The diverse makeup of its validator community, along with governance led by its users, ensures that Gnosis Chain remains committed to credible neutrality while offering services at a fraction of the cost of the primary Ethereum network. Being EVM-compatible, it benefits from stakers operating from various locations, effectively addressing the needs of its users. Additionally, Gnosis Chain offers user-friendly tools and is set to introduce trustless bridges to the mainnet, which will further improve its functionality and outreach. This evolution places Gnosis Chain as a compelling choice for both developers and users in the ever-expanding blockchain landscape. Its commitment to innovation and accessibility continues to attract a diverse range of participants.

Harmony is a high-speed, open blockchain that operates its mainnet to run Ethereum applications with a remarkable two-second response time and fees that are 100 times lower. With secure bridges, Harmony enables seamless cross-chain asset transfers between Ethereum, Binance, and various other networks, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for creators to engage with their communities. Its bridges facilitate connections between both Proof of Work and Proof of Stake chains, ensuring versatility and inclusivity. The FlyClient architecture is designed to be completely trustless and highly gas-efficient, currently safeguarding tens of millions of cross-chain assets from Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain. Developers can easily switch the Chain ID, allowing for swifter execution of EVMs that maintain identical bytecode, simplifying migration to Harmony with their existing Web3 tools. For users, familiar platforms like MetaMask and Ledger remain accessible, and they will benefit from significantly reduced transaction fees. Additionally, any Ethereum portal or wallet can operate on Harmony without requiring code alterations or new installations, making it an attractive option for a broader audience. Overall, Harmony's innovative approach not only enhances performance but also streamlines the user experience across different blockchain environments.