BlockchainWatch

Technology, history, funding, and controversies behind the major chains — the live ones and the dead ones.

Algorand
ALGO

A Pure Proof-of-Stake Layer 1 blockchain designed by a Turing Award-winning cryptographer for fast, low-cost finality.

Independent
Avalanche
AVAX

A high-throughput smart-contract platform built on a novel consensus protocol and a multi-chain, subnet architecture.

Ethereum
Bitcoin
BTC

The first successful cryptocurrency and blockchain, launched as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system.

Bitcoin
Bitcoin Cash
BCH

A 2017 fork of Bitcoin that increased the block size to prioritize on-chain scaling for payments.

forked Bitcoin
Bitcoin SV
BSV

A 2018 fork of Bitcoin Cash ("Satoshi Vision") pursuing massive on-chain block sizes and Craig Wright's interpretation of the original Bitcoin design.

forked Bitcoin
BNB Chain
BNB

Binance's EVM-compatible blockchain ecosystem, built around the exchange's native BNB token.

Ethereum
Cardano
ADA

A proof-of-stake Layer 1 blockchain built through peer-reviewed academic research, using an extended UTXO model.

Independent
Cosmos
ATOM

A network of independent, interoperable blockchains connected via the Inter-Blockchain Communication protocol.

Cosmos
Dogecoin
DOGE

A joke cryptocurrency based on the "Doge" meme that grew into one of the largest coins by market cap.

Bitcoin
EOS
EOS

A high-throughput smart contract platform funded by one of the largest ICOs in crypto history.

Independent
Ethereum
ETH

A programmable, smart-contract blockchain that popularized decentralized applications and DeFi.

Ethereum
Ethereum Classic
ETC

The original, unforked Ethereum chain, preserved by a minority that rejected reversing The DAO hack.

Ethereum
Litecoin
LTC

An early Bitcoin fork designed as a faster, lighter-weight "silver to Bitcoin's gold."

Bitcoin
Monero
XMR

A privacy-focused cryptocurrency that obscures sender, receiver, and transaction amount by default.

Independent
NEAR Protocol
NEAR

A sharded, developer-friendly smart contract platform designed for usability and scalability.

Independent
Polkadot
DOT

A sharded, multi-chain network where independent "parachains" share pooled security and interoperate via a central relay chain.

Polkadot
Polygon
POL

An Ethereum-adjacent scaling network, originally launched as Matic Network, focused on low-cost EVM transactions.

Ethereum
Solana
SOL

A high-throughput Layer 1 blockchain that uses a verifiable clock (Proof of History) to achieve fast, low-cost transactions.

Solana
Stellar
XLM

A nonprofit-backed payments network focused on cross-border transfers and financial inclusion.

Independent
Terra (Terra Classic)
LUNA / LUNC / UST

A Cosmos-based blockchain whose algorithmic stablecoin collapse in May 2022 wiped out tens of billions of dollars.

collapsed Cosmos
Tezos
XTZ

A self-amending Layer 1 blockchain that can upgrade its own protocol through on-chain governance, without hard forks.

Independent
Tron
TRX

A high-throughput smart-contract chain that became the dominant network for USDT stablecoin transfers.

Ethereum
Waves
WAVES

An independent smart contract platform whose USDN stablecoin experienced a Terra-like depeg in 2022.

Independent
XRP Ledger
XRP

A fast, low-fee payments-focused ledger created by Ripple, designed for cross-border settlement.

Independent