

Blockchain Performance, Demystified
Mar 14, 2025
Join Sasha Spiegelman, Aptos Labs’ Head of Research, and Tim Roughgarden, A16z crypto Head of Research and Columbia professor, as they dive deep into blockchain performance metrics. They tackle the complexities of throughput and latency, and discuss how design choices impact performance trade-offs. The conversation shines a light on innovative technologies like BlockSTM and the importance of open-source collaboration. Explore the balance between competition and sharing within the blockchain space as they envision the future of Web3.
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Blockchain Performance Metrics
- Blockchain performance is judged by TPS and latency.
- Subjectivity in user experience makes comparisons difficult, as different blockchains define metrics differently.
Aptos Pipeline Architecture
- Aptos uses a pipeline architecture for consensus, execution, and storage.
- The system's throughput is limited by its weakest component, creating internal competition for optimization.
Consensus Protocol Evolution
- Aptos uses a different consensus protocol than Novi/Diem.
- The evolution of consensus protocols from theoretical Byzantine agreement to practical blockchain implementations is discussed.