Published on: 10/04/2024
Base Hits High With 400 TPS: An Expansion Or An Illusion?
As the increasingly competitive cryptocurrency market shifts and swivels, digital currencies remain steadfast in making bids for market dominance. Ethereums Layer-2 scaling solution, Base, has recently been the talk of the town with its reported skyrocketing througput—up to 400 transactions per second (TPS), as asserted by Jesse Pollak, Bases head of protocols.
Pollak announced this growth in an early April update, confidently affirming the system operated flawlessly at such high TPS rates. The increase suggests a marked improvement from the live-recorded TPS of 26.8, with the maximum TPS previously reaching 292, as calculated by analyticial platform Chainspect.
But these figures have sparked critical debates, with skeptics questioning the validity due to the potential for including failed transactions into calculations. Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius Labs, linked to Solanas operating network, indicated credibility issues with Bases triumph, indicating an overwhelming 94% failed transaction rate in the biggest Base block.
These statistics eventually led to a more realistic TPS approximation of 41, presenting a stark contrast to the original 400 TPS claim. The doubt surrounding observed transaction rates has been short of generating a cordial atmosphere between each networks advocates.
These analytical debates come during a tumultuous time for Solana with recent network problems, including diminished user experience and failed transactions, igniting dissatisfaction among users. These issues, however, have been assigned to a specific protocol bug rather than a foundational design fault.
Despite criticisms, Bases network activity continues its aggressive upswing, almost entirely driven by the escalating memecoin mania. As recorded by DefiLlama, Bases Total Value Locked (TVL) hit a towering $1.5 billion on April 9, soaring by a staggering 235% since the start of 2021.
While this explosive growth paints a promising picture for Base, it does not come without cautionary undertones. Amid the rush to latch onto the memecoin craze, a surprising 90% of newly minted memecoins on Base reported at least one security vulnerability, and 17% were unapologetic scams.
So, what do these developments tell us about the future for investors?
While Solana battles functional issues and Ethereum presents a seemingly appealing alternative, investors must navigate these turbulent market waters with caution. The escalating TPS figures alongside the growing TVL could potentially indicate market sentiment leaning towards Base, but simultaneously highlight the precariousness of the recent memecoin craze, and the potential pitfalls for investors.
In reflecting on these dynamics, it becomes clear that amidst the robust growth rates reported, the volatility and vulnerability of the market remain prominent. Investors would do well to become well-informed market detectives, dissecting behind these impressive performance figures. In the racy and mercurial world of cryptocurrencies, speed is not always the winner, and illusion can sometimes masquerade as expansion.
#Blockchain #Transactions #Base #Solana