List of the Top 5 Layer 1 Protocols for Polkadot 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.

Kusama provides unmatched interoperability and scalability for blockchain developers eager to push the limits of creativity and technological advancements. Built using Substrate and sharing a nearly identical codebase along with an advanced multichain infrastructure with Polkadot, it distinguishes itself through its remarkable features. In an era where the equilibrium between technology and society has diminished, often resulting in large organizations overstepping their bounds, Kusama acts as a dynamic and rapid 'canary in the coal mine' for its more established sibling, Polkadot. This lively platform caters to innovators who aspire to reclaim power, spark imagination, and defy traditional standards. Prioritizing speed, it encourages developers to swiftly bring their ideas to life. The adventurous ethos of Kusama allows developers to easily navigate governance and upgrade pathways, promoting rapid growth and development. By operating on a state-of-the-art, sharded multichain network, users can take advantage of the latest advancements before they are rolled out on Polkadot, keeping them at the cutting edge of technological evolution. This forward-thinking mentality nurtures an environment of ongoing enhancement and quickens the flow of innovation throughout the blockchain community, fostering a vibrant ecosystem where change is not only welcomed but actively pursued.

Kadena's public blockchain is a high-throughput Proof of Work network that intertwines multiple chains, enhancing both scalability and throughput while maintaining the security and integrity associated with Bitcoin. By leveraging its native token, KDA, Kadena provides a reliable and scalable solution for digital currency transactions. Furthermore, it promotes data sharing and is being implemented across various industries such as finance, healthcare, and insurance. The mainnet of Kadena is now entirely open for public mining activities, and the latest updates can be found on the Chainweb-node GitHub Project, where users can also monitor the real-time mining of its parallel chains through Kadena’s Block Explorer. Additionally, we have introduced our Testnet Portal, which acts as an all-inclusive resource for downloading the testnet wallet, obtaining testnet coins, playing games, and participating in interactive experiences with our blockchain. This groundbreaking public blockchain utilizes a massively parallel protocol that greatly enhances the efficiency of Proof of Work processes. Through these advancements, Kadena seeks to transform the integration of blockchain technology into daily applications, fostering innovation across various sectors. As it grows, the potential for Kadena to create new opportunities and solutions in the blockchain space becomes increasingly evident.

Aleph Zero is a public blockchain that emphasizes privacy and guarantees immediate transaction finality, making it particularly suited for enterprise applications, Web 3.0, and decentralized finance (DeFi) use cases. This blockchain employs a proof-of-stake mechanism and integrates a unique aBFT consensus protocol along with a customized substrate stack. Currently, the development team is working on enhancing the platform by implementing a privacy framework that leverages Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) and secure Multi-Party Computation (sMPC), offering developers cutting-edge solutions for private smart contracts. In a recent laboratory evaluation, Aleph Zero's consensus mechanism, referred to as AlephBFT, showcased an impressive throughput of 89,600 transactions per second and a confirmation time of just 416 milliseconds, all conducted in a decentralized test environment that included 112 AWS nodes spread across five continents. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen how Aleph Zero will perform in real-world scenarios, especially when faced with high network traffic. The Aleph Zero Consensus Protocol has successfully passed peer review and is set to be published in the proceedings of the 2019 Advances in Financial Technology conference, highlighting its innovation and reliability within the blockchain sector. Looking ahead, future enhancements will prioritize further improvements to both privacy and scalability in order to accommodate the changing needs of users. This ongoing commitment to innovation positions Aleph Zero as a leading contender in the rapidly evolving blockchain landscape.

The CLV Chain is an innovative Layer 1 blockchain built on Substrate that ensures full compatibility with EVM, enabling cross-chain interactions. It offers a strong infrastructure that bolsters the growth of decentralized applications in the rapidly changing multi-chain landscape. CLV enhances multi-chain indexing, allowing users to access data seamlessly from leading networks such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Polkadot. This comprehensive platform enables users to easily search for blocks, transactions, and accounts, greatly improving their overall experience. To foster development among dApp creators, CLV rewards them by allocating a share of transaction fees, which nurtures a vibrant community and stimulates innovation in the DeFi sector on both Sakura and CLV. Furthermore, CLV features a Dynamic Fee Schedule, a groundbreaking mechanism for gas calculation that provides users with discounts based on their activity levels—less active users incur higher charges, while frequent participants enjoy decreasing costs over time, motivating ongoing involvement. This approach not only benefits developers but also enriches user experiences, thereby contributing to a more dynamic and interconnected blockchain ecosystem. Ultimately, CLV’s design and features position it as a key player in the future of decentralized finance.