The Ultimate Guide to All Blockchain Types in 2025: Technology, Market Insights, and Top Tokens

Layer 1 Public Blockchains

Layer 1 blockchains form the foundational layer of blockchain networks, directly responsible for consensus, security, and data availability. They enable decentralized applications and smart contracts without the need for additional scaling layers.

Ethereum

Launch Year: 2015
Developer: Ethereum Foundation
Consensus: Proof of Stake (since 2022, post-Merge)
Market Cap (2025): ~$420 Billion
Key Token: ETH
Use Cases: Smart contracts, DeFi, NFTs, DAOs
Website: https://ethereum.org

Ethereum is the most widely used Layer 1 blockchain for decentralized applications. It introduced smart contracts and remains at the center of Web3 innovation.

Solana

Launch Year: 2020
Developer: Solana Labs
Consensus: Proof of History + Proof of Stake
Market Cap (2025): ~$80 Billion
Key Token: SOL
Use Cases: High-speed dApps, DeFi, NFTs
Website: https://solana.com

Solana is known for its high throughput and low transaction costs, making it ideal for real-time applications like gaming and DeFi platforms.

Avalanche

Launch Year: 2020
Developer: Ava Labs
Consensus: Avalanche Consensus
Market Cap (2025): ~$20 Billion
Key Token: AVAX
Use Cases: dApps, enterprise blockchain, subnets
Website: https://avax.network

Avalanche offers customizable blockchains (subnets) with near-instant finality and high performance, supporting diverse decentralized applications.

Cardano

Launch Year: 2017
Developer: IOHK (Input Output Hong Kong)
Consensus: Ouroboros (Proof of Stake)
Market Cap (2025): ~$18 Billion
Key Token: ADA
Use Cases: Identity, governance, smart contracts
Website: https://cardano.org

Cardano emphasizes peer-reviewed research and formal methods, aiming for scalability and sustainability through a layered architecture.

2. Layer 2 Scaling Solutions

Layer 2s improve blockchain scalability by processing transactions off-chain while maintaining security through the underlying Layer 1. Popular examples include Ethereum-based rollups and sidechains.

Arbitrum

Launch Year: 2021
Developer: Offchain Labs
Consensus: Rollup (Optimistic)
Market Cap (2025): ~$12 Billion
Key Token: ARB
Use Cases: DeFi, dApps, Web3 games
Website: https://arbitrum.io

Arbitrum is one of the most adopted Ethereum Layer 2 rollups, offering high throughput with low fees.

Optimism

Launch Year: 2021
Developer: Optimism Collective
Consensus: Rollup (Optimistic)
Market Cap (2025): ~$9 Billion
Key Token: OP
Use Cases: DeFi, governance, modular scalability
Website: https://www.optimism.io

Optimism powers a fast-growing ecosystem of Ethereum-compatible apps. It plays a key role in Ethereum’s long-term scalability strategy.

zkSync Era

Launch Year: 2023
Developer: Matter Labs
Consensus: zk-Rollup
Market Cap (2025): ~$6 Billion
Key Token: ZKS
Use Cases: Payments, dApps, privacy
Website: https://zksync.io

zkSync utilizes zero-knowledge proofs for enhanced scalability and privacy, enabling secure off-chain computation.

3. Enterprise Blockchains

Enterprise blockchains are designed for business use cases such as supply chain tracking, identity management, and digital agreements.

Hyperledger Fabric

Launch Year: 2017
Developer: Linux Foundation
Consensus: Pluggable (Kafka, Raft, etc.)
Use Cases: Supply chains, finance, healthcare
Website: https://www.hyperledger.org/use/fabric

Hyperledger Fabric is a permissioned blockchain used by enterprises for secure and scalable private networks.

Quorum

Launch Year: 2016
Developer: JPMorgan (now ConsenSys)
Consensus: IBFT, Raft
Use Cases: Banking, enterprise finance
Website: https://consensys.net/quorum

Quorum enables private transactions and secure data exchange within financial institutions.

4. Interoperability Protocols

These platforms connect disparate blockchains, allowing seamless token and data exchange across networks.

Cosmos (ATOM)

(Already covered under Layer 1)

Polkadot (DOT)

(Already covered under Layer 1)

Chainlink (LINK)

Launch Year: 2017
Developer: Chainlink Labs
Consensus: Oracle network
Market Cap (2025): ~$11 Billion
Key Token: LINK
Use Cases: Data feeds, DeFi oracles, cross-chain services
Website: https://chain.link

Chainlink connects smart contracts to real-world data through decentralized oracle services.

5. DAG-Based Blockchains

Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) networks offer an alternative to traditional blockchain, promising higher speed and scalability.

Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR)

Launch Year: 2019
Consensus: Hashgraph (Gossip + Virtual Voting)
Market Cap (2025): ~$3 Billion
Key Token: HBAR
Use Cases: Enterprises, microtransactions, NFTs
Website: https://hedera.com

Hedera is governed by a council of global enterprises and supports high-throughput applications.

IOTA (MIOTA)

Launch Year: 2015
Consensus: Tangle (DAG)
Market Cap (2025): ~$1.5 Billion
Key Token: MIOTA
Use Cases: IoT, M2M payments, smart cities
Website: https://www.iota.org

IOTA’s lightweight protocol makes it ideal for IoT devices and real-time microtransactions.

6. Privacy-Focused Blockchains

Privacy chains prioritize user anonymity and untraceable transactions.

Monero (XMR)

Launch Year: 2014
Consensus: Proof-of-Work (RandomX)
Market Cap (2025): ~$4 Billion
Key Token: XMR
Use Cases: Private payments, untraceable transactions
Website: https://www.getmonero.org

Monero uses ring signatures and stealth addresses to ensure full transaction privacy.

Zcash (ZEC)

Launch Year: 2016
Consensus: PoW (Equihash)
Market Cap (2025): ~$900 Million
Key Token: ZEC
Use Cases: Selective privacy, shielded transactions
Website: https://z.cash

Zcash offers optional privacy through zk-SNARKs, making it one of the most advanced cryptographic blockchains.

7. NFT & Gaming-Oriented Chains

These blockchains focus on supporting high-throughput gaming ecosystems and NFT minting.

Immutable X (IMX)

Launch Year: 2021
Consensus: zk-Rollup (on Ethereum)
Market Cap (2025): ~$2 Billion
Key Token: IMX
Use Cases: NFTs, Web3 games
Website: https://www.immutable.com

Immutable X allows gas-free NFT minting and trading with Ethereum security.

Ronin (RON)

Launch Year: 2021
Developer: Sky Mavis
Consensus: Delegated PoS
Market Cap (2025): ~$1.2 Billion
Key Token: RON
Use Cases: Play-to-earn games, NFT economies
Website: https://roninchain.com

Ronin was built for Axie Infinity and has expanded to other NFT-based games.

8. Modular & App-Specific Blockchains

These chains separate execution, consensus, and data availability for scalability.

Celestia (TIA)

Launch Year: 2023
Consensus: Modular PoS
Market Cap (2025): ~$5 Billion
Key Token: TIA
Use Cases: Data availability, rollups, modular dApps
Website: https://celestia.org

Celestia is a data availability layer powering modular chains and Layer 2 rollups.

9. Stablecoin Infrastructure Blockchains

These platforms are optimized for issuing, managing, and transferring stablecoins.

Stellar (XLM)

Launch Year: 2014
Consensus: Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP)
Market Cap (2025): ~$3.2 Billion
Key Token: XLM
Use Cases: Cross-border payments, stablecoins
Website: https://stellar.org

Stellar facilitates fast, low-cost payments and is used for many fiat-backed stablecoins.

Terra 2.0 (LUNA)

Relaunch Year: 2022
Consensus: PoS
Market Cap (2025): ~$300 Million
Key Token: LUNA
Use Cases: Stablecoin experimentation
Website: https://www.terra.money

Terra has attempted a comeback focused on decentralized finance and experimental stablecoins.

10. Government & CBDC Platforms

These blockchain solutions support central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and national-level integrations.

eCash (XEC)

Launch Year: 2021 (Rebrand of Bitcoin Cash ABC)
Consensus: Avalanche Post-Consensus
Market Cap (2025): ~$700 Million
Key Token: XEC
Use Cases: CBDC frameworks, national-level adoption
Website: https://e.cash

eCash integrates government-friendly features for future CBDC implementation.

Blockchain Comparisons and Market Trends

To help you navigate the blockchain ecosystem:

• Fastest Chains: Solana, Avalanche, Hedera

• Most Private: Monero, Zcash

• Best for DeFi: Ethereum, Arbitrum, BNB Chain

• Top for NFTs: Immutable X, Solana, Ronin

• Enterprise Ready: Hyperledger Fabric, Quorum, Algorand

• Interoperable Leaders: Cosmos, Polkadot, Chainlink

Future of Blockchain Technology

Blockchain is no longer a niche technology—it’s foundational to the digital economy. From decentralized finance and governance to digital identity and enterprise applications, blockchains are becoming the backbone of Web3 and beyond.

Whether you’re investing in the next major Layer 1, developing dApps, or exploring enterprise integrations, understanding the variety of blockchains is crucial to participating in this next phase of innovation.