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As the Layer-1 ecosystem is increasingly flooded with inflated performance claims, new research from Steven Pu, Co-Founder of Taraxa, delivers a reality check. Using data from Chainspect, the study evaluates the cost-efficiency of 22 blockchains by analyzing the real-world cost of running a validator node against actual mainnet throughput.
Blockchain performance reports often rely on idealized scenarios with private testnets, specialized hardware, and unrealistic assumptions that inflate transactions-per-second (TPS) numbers. This results in performance claims that look impressive on paper but do not hold up in practice.

Pu’s research introduces a more pragmatic approach—measuring transactions per second achieved on mainnet per dollar spent on a validator node (TPS/$). This simple yet powerful metric directly addresses the distortion in performance figures by shifting the focus from theoretical throughput to cost-adjusted efficiency. By assessing how much real transaction processing power a network provides per dollar spent, this study offers a fair and verifiable way to compare blockchains on a level playing field.

Figures are produced by dividing the observed mainnet throughput by the monthly cost of a single validator node. The goal is to ensure that blockchain developers, investors, and users have access to data that truly reflects network sustainability and scalability.

This research is more than just a comparison—it’s a call to action. For too long, blockchain projects have relied on inflated performance metrics that fail under real-world conditions. By shifting the focus to cost-efficiency and observed mainnet performance, Pu’s study sets a new standard for evaluating blockchain scalability.
Tellingly, the results expose a striking gap between theoretical performance figures and real-world results. Figures show that theoretical throughput is overstated by a staggering average of 20 times when compared to actual mainnet observations. This means that TPS figures, often cited in whitepapers and marketing materials, vastly exceed what is achievable under real-world conditions.

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Such a significant discrepancy suggests that developers, investors, and users may base their decisions on numbers that do not hold up outside of a controlled test environment. This calls for a reform in how blockchain performance is reported and evaluated.

“Investors, developers, and users deserve transparency,” explains Pu. “The blockchain industry has long been obsessed with theoretical performance figures, but numbers generated in a lab mean little if they can’t be replicated in real-world conditions.”

“Our research also shows that many networks require expensive hardware just to achieve modest transaction rates, which is neither technically impressive nor decentralized. By focusing on verifiable data from live networks, we can shift the conversation toward meaningful performance metrics that actually impact usability, cost-efficiency, and decentralized adoption.”

Findings also show that only four out of the 22 blockchains achieve a double-digit TPS/cost ratio. This low percentage highlights that most networks require high expenditures to reach modest transaction rates. Many networks fall short when the real cost of running a node is considered. Users and developers face a challenging landscape where performance is not always backed by cost efficiency.
Rather than dismissing other chains, Taraxa calls for more transparent, verifiable and balanced metrics for comparing blockchains. The research is more than just a comparison—it’s a call to action. For too long, blockchain projects have relied on inflated performance metrics that fail under real-world conditions. By shifting the focus to cost-efficiency and observed mainnet performance, Pu’s study sets a new standard for evaluating blockchain scalability.

Overall, the research challenges common industry practices that rely on overly optimistic theoretical metrics. The market often relies on figures generated under ideal conditions that rarely match everyday use.

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By basing this study on data from live networks, the Taraxa team provides a more grounded look at blockchain performance. The focus on cost efficiency and real-world conditions helps set a new standard for performance reporting.

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