Arbitrum

NEAR Protocol

NEAR Protocol is a layer-1 blockchain, launched in 2020, that focuses on scalability and was a response to Ethereum's scalability woes. Since then, it has pivoted to becoming the 'Blockchain for AI'.

The Open Network (TON)

The Open Network (TON) is a layer-1 blockchain which operates on a type of Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism. Originally founded by Telegram, the pair have since distanced from one another owing to regulatory challenges.

Hedera

Hedera is a layer-1 blockchain network, leveraging the hashgraph consensus mechanism. The network's native asset is $HBAR which launched in 2019 and is listed on nearly all major exchanges.

Cardano

Cardano is an alternative L1 blockchain founded in 2015 by Ethereum co-founder, Charles Hoskinson, among others. It remains a blue-chip crypto project, alongside its native $ADA coin, with its own development ecosystem.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the grandfather of all cryptocurrencies. Created in 2009 by the pseudonymous 'Satoshi Nakamoto', Bitcoin and its native $BTC is by far the largest of all crypto assets, now held by the world's biggest institutions and nation states as a store of value.

Ethereum

Ethereum is the original smart contract network and is second only to Bitcoin itself in market cap. Launched in July, 2015, Ethereum has become a hotbed for development and activity and even boasts countless layer-2 networks, designed to improve the scalability of its ecosystem.

Solana

Solana is one of the crypto industry's leading layer-1 blockchains and ecosystems. Launched in 2019 as a response to Ethereum's scalability problems at the time, it offers high throughput and TPS and operates using the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM).

Lido Finance

Lido Finance is the original liquid-staking protocol that popularized the sub-sector. Though it has offered staking for several assets, it is best known as the leading $ETH LST platform and minting $stETH.

Base

Developed by the Coinbase exchange, Base is an Ethereum layer-2 network. Its mainnet launched in mid-2023 and, at time of writing, it has not native governance/speculative token.

Polkadot

Polkadot is an L1 blockchain ecosystem, founded back in 2016, with a native token $DOT. Polkadot originally rose to prominence owing to its unique 'parachain' architecture.

Dogecoin

Dogecoin is the original crypto memecoin, launched way back in December 2013. Since launch, it has risen to become one of crypto's very biggest assets.