Layer 1 Platforms a Framework for Comparison

Overview: From different network architectures to different consensus algorithms to different native token designs, there are hundreds of ways to construct a smart contract platform. Based on our analysis of just seven different platforms, the likelihood of a “one chain to rule them all outcome” appears all but impossible. Indeed, the more analytical rigor these platforms are assessed with, the more apparent it becomes that predicting which platform(s) will succeed over the long term is challenging. In many respects, they are very similar. In other respects, they could not be more different.