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Blockchain technology came into existence when a paper titled âBitcoin: A peer-to-peer electronic cash systemâ was announced by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. However, the word âblockchainâ was never used in the paper specifically. The paper discusses a âpeer-to-peer version of electronic cashâ where network adds timestamps to the transactions by hashing them into a chain of hash-based proof-of-work.
On the other hand, people define distributed ledger as a peer-to-peer network that uses a specific consensus mechanism to prevent updation of an ordered series of time-stamped records. Consensus mechanisms include Byzantine Fault Tolerance Algorithm, Proof of Stake, Proof of Work and more.
Some of the significant use cases of blockchain are supply chain and logistics, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, IoT applications and much more. Building a blockchain app from scratch can be quite complicated; however, blockchain platforms allow developers to develop blockchain apps with ease.
As the blockchain technology is gaining a lot of traction with each passing year, several blockchain platforms are now available in the market that facilitates blockchain development.
Since there are a variety of blockchain platforms, you need to pick one that meets your business requirements.
Hereâs how can you choose the right blockchain platform for your business
We have selected popular and easy-to-use blockchain platforms for businesses based on their subjective assessment and features. We have done a qualitative analysis of each blockchain platform based on the following factors:
- ActivityHow active is the blockchain platform in terms of blockchain development projects?
- Type of networkWhether a blockchain platform supports public, permissioned or private network
- Supported LanguagesWhat are the programming languages supported by the blockchain platformâs SDK?
- PopularityHow popular is the platform based on its contribution to GitHub and ratings?
- GitHub RepoNames of the GitHub Repo for platformâs SDKs.
- CostingIf the platform is available at free of cost or if it is paid, then what is its price per year.
- Technical SupportIf the platform is backed a team of technical support specialists or not.
Following are some of the blockchain platforms that we have analyzed based on the factors mentioned above:
- Ethereum
- Hyperledger Sawtooth
- Hyperledger Fabric
- Hyperledger Iroha
- OpenChain
- Stellar
- NEO
- EOS
- Hedera Hashgraph
- R3 Corda
- Quorum
- MultiChain
- Ripple
- Credits
- Elements
EthereumImage source Ethereum
In late 2013, the team of developers, Vitalik Buterin, Jeffrey Wilcke and Gavin Wood worked on creating an open-source and blockchain based distributed computing platform, Ethereum. Their goal was to create a fully trustless smart contract platform.
It is an open blockchain platform that allows anyone to develop and run decentralized applications on blockchain technology. Just like Bitcoin, no one can own or control the Ethereum platform. It is based on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) that offers the run-time environment to smart contracts built on Ethereum. Each node on Ethereum runs on the EVM.
Being the public blockchain platform, it is built for restricted access versus mass consumption. It has a native cryptocurrency called Ether that is used to fuel the entire Ethereum ecosystem.
Industry Focus: Cross-IndustryConsensus Algorithm: Proof of Work Governance: Ethereum DevelopersSmart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: PermissionlessUseful Links: https://ethereum.org/ https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/White-Paper
Hyperledger SawtoothImage source Hyperledger
Contributed by IBM and Digital Asset and founded by the Linux Foundation, Hyperledger Sawtooth is one of the widely used Hyperledger Projects which is designed to create, execute and deploy distributed ledgers.
It is a modular and enterprise-grade platform that enables digital records to be maintained without the need for a central authority managing it. Using PoET (Proof of Elapsed Time) consensus mechanism, Hyperledger Sawtooth can integrate with hardware security solutions termed as âtrusted execution environments.â
Industry Focus: Cross-IndustryConsensus Algorithm: Pluggable Framework Governance: Linux FoundationSmart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: PermissionedUseful Links: https://www.hyperledger.org/projects/sawtoothhttps://sawtooth.hyperledger.org/docs/core/releases/latest/https://sawtooth.hyperledger.org/examples/
Hyperledger Fabricimage source Hyperledger
Hyperledger Fabric is also one of the popular Hyperledger Projects that is designed to build blockchain apps using a modular approach. The modular architecture enables network designers to plug in the components of their choice, such as consensus mechanism, membership services. Such modularity of architecture differs Fabric from other blockchain platforms.
Explicitly designed for permissioned networks, Hyperledger Fabric only allows known identities to participate within the system. Only authorized participants can be involved in the transactions taking place on Hyperledger Fabric platform.
Industry Focus: Cross-IndustryConsensus Algorithm: Pluggable Framework Governance: Linux FoundationSmart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: PermissionedUseful Links: https://www.hyperledger.org/projects/fabrichttps://github.com/hyperledger/fabric
Hyperledger Irohaimage source Iroha.tech
Hyperledger Iroha has been founded by the Linux Foundation to build trusted, fast and secure dApps on blockchain technology. Based on a highly fast and secure consensus algorithm, Yet Another Consensus, Iroha protects the nodes from failures or adversary nodes.
Supporting both Linux and macOS environment, the platform is widely used to build the supply chain and IoT solutions. Like other Hyperledger projects, Iroha is also simple and modularized distributed ledger system.
Industry Focus: Cross-IndustryConsensus Algorithm: Chain-based Byzantine Fault Tolerant Governance: Linux FoundationSmart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: PermissionedUseful Links: https://www.hyperledger.org/projects/irohahttps://iroha.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
Developed by CoinPrism organization, OpenChain is an open-source blockchain platform, well-suited for businesses willing to handle the digital assets in a scalable and secure way. Using partitioned consensus, one instance can only have a single authority for validating transactions on OpenChain platform.
As there is no miner involved in OpenChain, the asset administrator can validate the transactions. Since transactions on OpenChain are free of cost, it is the most efficient platform than any other blockchain platform.
Industry Focus: Digital Asset Management Consensus Algorithm: Partitioned ConsensusGovernance: Linux FoundationSmart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: PermissionedUseful Links: https://www.openchain.org/https://github.com/openchain
Stellar is a distributed ledger platform, specifically built to facilitate cross-asset transfers of value. Stellar allows developers to develop smart devices, banking tools and mobile wallets on the top of Stellar Blockchain Network.
With Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), it becomes possible to achieve consensus without relying on a closed system to record financial transactions.
In comparison to proof of stake and proof of work, SCP opens up the financial system to new members and reduces barriers to entry. SureRemit is one of the applications that leverage the Stellar platform to connect immigrants abroad with the merchants offering services in a different country.
Industry Focus: Financial Services Consensus Algorithm: Stellar Consensus ProtocolGovernance: Stellar Development Foundation Smart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: Both public and privateUseful Links: https://www.stellar.org/https://www.stellar.org/papers/stellar-consensus-protocol.pdf
Founded by the members of blockchain R&D company âOnChain,â NEO blockchain platform is designed to build scalable dApps. Using Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance mechanism, NEO works better than other platforms.
It has a native cryptocurrency known as âNEOâ which can be used for paying transaction fees to run apps on the NEOÂ network.
Industry Focus: Smart EconomyConsensus Algorithm: Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance Governance: On-chain governance through votes of NEO holders and Off-chain governance through NEO Foundation support. Smart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: Permissioned Useful Links: https://neo.org/https://docs.neo.org/en-us/whitepaper.html
Founded by a private company, Block.One, EOS was launched as open-source software in June 2018. EOS aims to provide decentralized applicationâs hosting, smart contract capability, decentralized storage of enterprise blockchain apps and solve scalability issues with Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The EOS platform also eradicates the additional fees for all its users while accomplishing consensus using multi-threading and delegated proof of stake algorithm.
Industry Focus: Cross-Industry Consensus Algorithm: Delegated Proof of Stake Governance: EOSIO Core Arbitration Forum (ECAF) Smart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: Permissioned Useful Links: https://eos.io/https://developers.eos.io/
Hedera Hashgraph
Hedera Hashgraph is a lightning fast and fair platform that does not need to compute a heavy proof of work algorithm as compared to other blockchain platforms. The platform comes with the functionality of smart contracts. It has a unique but optional mechanism, âbinding arbitrationâ that allows smart contracts to be deployed with a list of the public key of arbitrators who can add new features and fix bugs.
With asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerance Algorithm, Hedera Hashgraph provides a high degree of security.
Industry Focus: Cross-Industry Consensus Algorithm: Asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerance Governance: Hedera Hashgraph CouncilSmart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: Permissioned Useful Links: https://www.hedera.com/https://www.hedera.com/whitepaper
R3 Corda
Image source Chatsworth Communications
R3 Corda is an innovative blockchain platform that allows institutions to make transactions directly with smart contracts, thereby removing costly frictions from the business transactions.
Built initially only for the financial sector, R3 Corda can now be applied to other use cases such as healthcare, supply chain, government authorities and trade finance.
Industry Focus: Cross-Industry Consensus Algorithm: Asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerance Governance: Hedera Hashgraph CouncilSmart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: Permissioned Useful Links: https://www.hedera.com/https://www.hedera.com/whitepaper
Launched by JP Morgan, Quorum is an enterprise version of Ethereum blockchain. By modifying Ethereumâs core, the platform can quickly incorporate Ethereym updates.
It is an open-source blockchain platform that uses vote based algorithms to execute hundreds of transactions per second. Since it a permissioned blockchain platform, it only allows authorized participants to take part in the transactions on the platform.
Industry Focus: Cross-Industry Consensus Algorithm: Majority Voting Governance: Ethereum Developers and JP Morgan ChaseSmart Contract Functionality: NoLedger Type: Permissioned Useful Links: https://www.jpmorgan.com/country/US/EN/Quorumhttps://github.com/jpmorganchase/quorum
MultiChain
Multichain is a blockchain platform, designed for the development and deployment of private blockchains and offers control and privacy within a peer to peer network.
Using MultiChain platform, it is possible to control who can send, receive and monitor transactions, create streams, blocks and assets. A blockchain app can either be developed as open or closed blockchain depending on the business requirements.
Industry Focus: Cross-Industry Consensus Algorithm: Distributed ConsensusGovernance: Not Mentioned Smart Contract Functionality: Yes, but they are referred to as smart filters Ledger Type: Permissioned Useful Links: https://www.multichain.com/https://www.multichain.com/download/MultiChain-White-Paper.pdf
Rippleimage source Bitcoinwiki
Ripple aims to connect digital asset exchanges, corporates, banks and payment service providers via RippleNet, the blockchain network with no chargebacks. It enables international payments via a digital asset âRippleâ or âXRP.â
Using probabilistic voting, Ripple can reach the consensus between nodes on the network. Big brands like American Express, SBI Holdings and Deloitte are experimenting with the potential of Rippleâs Blockchain to transform the payment processes.
Industry Focus: Financial Services Consensus Algorithm: Probabilistic Voting Governance: Ripple LabsSmart Contract Functionality: NoLedger Type: Permissioned Useful Links: https://ripple.com/https://ripple.com/collateral/
Credits
Credits is a development platform to build and execute decentralized applications (dApps) based on smart contracts and blockchain technology.
It provides developers with a wide range of solutions that can be used for application development. It uses the Credits Decision Consensus Algorithm to build scalable and robust blockchain apps.
Industry Focus: Cross-Industry Consensus Algorithm: Variant Proof of Stake Governance: Not MentionedSmart Contract Functionality: YesLedger Type: Permissioned Useful Links: https://credits.com/https://developers.credits.com/
Elements by Blockstreamimage source blockstream
Elements Blockchain is an open-source sidechain-capable platform that provides access to unique features built by the community members. Its special features include Confidential transactions and assets. By issuing multiple privately transferrable assets on the single blockchain, Elements blockchain opens up various use cases.
Elements blockchain uses the signatories known as block signers for signing and creating blocks timely and efficiently.
Industry Focus: Cross-Industry Consensus Algorithm: Strong FederationsGovernance: Not MentionedSmart Contract Functionality: NoLedger Type: Permissioned Useful Links: https://elementsproject.org/
This article will help you get information about the popular blockchain projects, which are now being used by several blockchain companies to build dApps. As a blockchain development company, we understand the above blockchain platforms and have a team of developers who can develop blockchain applications on the top of these platforms.
Top Blockchain Platforms to watch out in 2019 was originally published in Hacker Noon on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the views of Bitcoin Insider. Every investment and trading move involves risk - this is especially true for cryptocurrencies given their volatility. We strongly advise our readers to conduct their own research when making a decision.