Solana ($SOL )
Category: Smart contract platform
Key Strength: Speed and low transaction cost
TPS (Transactions Per Second): Up to 65,000
Consensus Mechanism: Proof of History (PoH) + Proof of Stake (PoS)
Why It Has Potential in 2025:
• High throughput and low fees make it ideal for DeFi, NFTs, and gaming.
• Solana’s ecosystem has been growing rapidly with projects like Helium, Audius, and Magic Eden.
• The Firedancer upgrade, scheduled for full deployment in 2025, is expected to further increase efficiency and reduce downtime.
• Institutional interest is rising; it’s one of the top 10 holdings in many crypto-focused funds.
Risks:
• Network outages have plagued Solana in the past.
• Heavy VC backing, which some criticize for centralization.
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Category: Layer 1 blockchain
Key Strength: Customizability and subnet architecture
TPS: Over 4,500
Consensus Mechanism: Avalanche Consensus + Snowman
Why It Has Potential in 2025:
• Allows developers to create their own independent blockchains (subnets) with customizable rules.
• Known for strong partnerships, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Deloitte.
• The tokenomics are solid, with capped supply and strong burn mechanics — over 3 million AVAX tokens already burned.
• It’s being used in real-world asset tokenization, including RWAs and stablecoin deployment.
Risks:
• Lower adoption than Solana or Ethereum.
• Faces stiff competition from newer L1s and L2s.
