What makes a blockchain great? What are the “must-haves” and how is Tezos meeting these standards?

As someone who’s navigated the choppy waters of blockchains for a couple of years, looking at the current crypto market, I’ve come to wonder what truly sets a platform apart in this revolutionary space, and for me, it’s about more than just smart contracts, transaction speeds, and gambling — it’s about adhering to the core values of cryptocurrency while continuously evolving to meet future challenges.

At its heart, a solid blockchain platform needs to champion transparency, decentralization, security, and user empowerment. These aren’t just nice-to-have features; they are the foundational pillars that support the trust and functionality of any blockchain. With that in mind, I wanted to share what I think are some of the “must-haves” for any blockchain and how Tezos ticks all those boxes. Let’s get into it!

Future-proof

If you want to build a project, mint some digital art, or in general invest your time and money in a blockchain, you want it to be future-proof. You need to feel safe and that the foundations that you build upon will still be solid in one, ten, or a hundred years and this is a point where Tezos excels.

I can’t think of another blockchain that has evolved and upgraded as consistently as Tezos. With 15 upgrades already under its belt and a 16th on the way, Tezos’ on-chain governance model makes it exceptionally adaptable. It continually incorporates the latest technologies and meets the evolving demands of the industry, ensuring it never gets left behind.

Security

Another critical element of a robust blockchain is its security. Blockchains are currently undergoing groundbreaking technological advancements, and we often see hastily developed projects that lead to failures. The Tezos protocol is crafted in OCaml, a functional programming language known for its “Secure-By-Design” qualities.

Additionally, it employs Michelson as the primary programming language for its smart contracts, which supports formal verification of code — crucial for institutions and other high-security applications.

It’s worth noting that Tezos is open-source and has been rigorously tested over its five-plus years in existence. Lastly, as we mentioned in the previous point, Tezos is getting upgrades more than any other blockchain, these upgrades almost always include improvements to its security which make it even more secure as we move forward.

Scalability

The idea here is simple, If you want to build the digital commonwealth on top of blockchain technology, your blockchain must be able to support the demand. This has been made clear and it’s no wonder most blockchains, new and old, have put their marketing focus on scalability. So how is Tezos doing on that topic?

Well, besides the 1 million transactions per second (TPS) demonstration that we saw last summer, the Tezos core teams have been really hard at work on scalability. The integration of enshrined rollups last year was a significant milestone, and now, with the Data Availability Layer (DAL) included in the upcoming “Paris” protocol upgrade — currently in the on-chain governance voting process — Tezos is truly staying ahead of the curve in decentralized scalability.

Sticking to the Core Values of Crypto

One aspect often overlooked in today’s blockchain industry is the commitment of certain platforms to uphold the foundational principles of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. We frequently observe blockchains compromising on decentralization and censorship resistance — key tenets that originally defined this technology.

In contrast, Tezos continues to honor these essential values as it progresses toward its 16th upgrade. It consistently implements innovations and enhancements in security, scalability, and other critical areas of its ecosystem without forsaking its core principles. As a result, Tezos remains among the most decentralized and inclusive blockchains available. After all, without genuine decentralization and resistance to censorship, one might as well opt for a centralized database.

Additionally, Tezos stands out for its accessibility; with low hardware and stake requirements, it’s one of the most affordable blockchains for validators to join. Furthermore, Tezos’s approach to decentralization extends beyond merely having a large number of nodes and equitable token distribution. It has also been a trailblazer in decentralized decision-making through its on-chain governance system. Tezos is effectively driving progress in the blockchain space, motivated by the right reasons and focusing on what truly matters.

Community

In the topic of blockchain “must-haves” and differentiators, I couldn’t have left out the community. We all understand the importance of community and I have to say the Tezos community is a unique one. A collective full of diverse and passionate people. It is the kind of community that will welcome and support everyone but will not stay passive. It will voice its opinions and it will actively participate in improving the Tezos ecosystem.

Be it developers, artists, gamers, defi users, traders, or simply Tezos enthusiasts, you will find a like-minded sub-community where you will feel at home. I really can’t say enough good things about our community, I’m just super glad I’m part of it.

In wrapping up, if your priorities align with stability and a principled approach to blockchain development, then Tezos is your go-to blockchain. It’s not just about being part of another blockchain community; it’s about engaging with a forward-thinking ecosystem that values progress while sticking to its core principles.

Tezos isn’t just ticking boxes — it’s creating them. Whether you’re a developer, artist, or just a crypto enthusiast, Tezos offers a solid foundation and a vibrant community that’s ready to welcome and grow with you. Join us in shaping a future where technology respects values and where every update is a step towards a better, more decentralized world.

Tezos Ticks All The Boxes was originally published in Tezos Commons on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.