Scalability in crypto refers to a blockchain network's ability to handle an increasing number of transactions efficiently as demand grows. A scalable blockchain can process more transactions per second (TPS) without significantly increasing fees, slowing down, or compromising security.
Key Aspects of Scalability
1. Transaction Throughput – The number of transactions a network can process per second.
2. Latency – The time it takes for a transaction to be confirmed.
3. Network Congestion – How well the system handles high user activity without slowing down.
4. Fees – The cost of processing transactions; ideally, fees remain low even with high traffic.
Scalability Solutions
1. Layer 1 Scaling (On-Chain Improvements)
Sharding (Splitting blockchain into smaller parts to process transactions in parallel).
Consensus Mechanism Upgrades (e.g., switching from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake).
Block Size Increase (Larger blocks allow more transactions per block).
2. Layer 2 Scaling (Off-Chain Solutions)
Rollups (Bundling multiple transactions into one to reduce blockchain load).
State Channels (Off-chain transactions between parties, settled later on-chain).
Sidechains (Independent blockchains connected to the main blockchain).