12 New Promising Layer 1 Blockchain Projects in 2025

In 2025, a new wave of Layer 1 blockchain projects is reshaping the blockchain landscape, tackling core issues like scalability, security, and decentralization with innovative solutions. Unlike earlier networks, these emerging platforms focus on advanced consensus mechanisms, sharding, and multi-chain interoperability to support a diverse range of use cases across sectors, from DeFi to gaming.

They’re designed with user-friendly models, lower fees, and eco-friendly systems to meet the growing demand for sustainable, cost-effective blockchain solutions. With strong developer communities and incentives for dApp creation, these 12 promising Layer 1 projects reveal how foundational innovation can drive blockchain forward, creating a more connected and accessible decentralized future. In this article, we’ll look at each project’s unique features and impact in 2025.

12 New Promising Layer 1 Blockchain Projects in 2025

Imagine blockchains that are not only fast and secure but designed with social impact in mind, or platforms that make token creation so simple that anyone can tokenize assets without technical expertise. These aren’t just abstract ideas—they are becoming reality with the 12 new Layer 1 blockchain projects we’ll explore. Whether it’s driving a new era of decentralized finance (DeFi), creating ultra-immersive metaverse environments, or enabling the tokenization of real-world assets with ease, these platforms are set to be game changers. 

1. HeLa

Guardian Node Rewards:

• Daily reward pool from 12% of the total token supply, distributed linearly over four years to Guardian Node operators who maintain a 100% task completion rate.
• Initial bonus of 288 HeLa tokens for those purchasing Guardian Nodes during the Token Generation Event (TGE).

Ecosystem Partnership Airdrops:

• Regular airdrops from HeLa ecosystem partners to Guardian Node operators, offering early access to new HeLa chain products.

Reward Claim Process:

• Node rewards are claimable through the Guardian Node smart contract, ensuring tokens are securely transferred to the node owner’s wallet.

Community-Driven Incentives:

• Designed to attract and reward active participants in the network, creating a loyal and engaged user base.

HeLa stands out as a groundbreaking layer 1 blockchain protocol on a mission to actualize the potential of Web3 in the real world. By effectively tackling the challenges of scalability, interoperability, privacy, and user experience, HeLa emerges as a beacon for new layer 1 blockchain projects, working towards widespread adoption.

The protocol introduces ingenious features that not only facilitate an impressive transaction throughput, ensuring user-friendly interactions, decentralization, and security, but also fosters seamless interoperability among diverse blockchains, forging a cohesive ecosystem for efficient data and value exchange. Emphasizing robust privacy measures and intuitive interfaces, HeLa employs stablecoin-based gas fees, ensuring consistent transaction costs unaffected by fluctuations. Moreover, it stands as a creation by distinguished scientists and engineers, dedicated to fostering tangible real-world adoption.

Benefits:

• Effectively addresses challenges like scalability and interoperability.
• Incorporates advanced privacy and user experience features.
• Gas fees tied to stablecoins, mitigating cost fluctuations.
• Backed by a team of prominent scientists and engineers.

Barriers:

• New entrants often struggle in a saturated market.
• Ongoing development and support are imperative.
• Established blockchains might perceive its features as a threat.

2. Celestia

Current Price: $5.45

Market Cap: $1,020,000,000 (Ranked #65 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 187,000,000 TIA

Celestia is a groundbreaking Layer 1 blockchain project in 2024, known for its modular architecture that separates consensus, data availability, and execution layers. This design allows developers to build customized blockchains, enhancing flexibility and efficiency. Celestia employs data availability sampling to ensure transaction data is accessible and secure, reducing the need for extensive bandwidth and storage. Its ability to decouple execution from consensus significantly boosts scalability, supporting more transactions per second and minimizing congestion.

Celestia’s interoperability with other blockchains facilitates seamless cross-chain interactions, expanding the potential for decentralized applications (dApps). The platform offers a developer-friendly environment with support for various execution frameworks, simplifying dApp development. By enhancing security and decentralization, Celestia creates a robust and resilient network. Overall, Celestia stands out for its efficiency, customization capabilities, and potential to drive innovation in the blockchain space.

Benefits

• Modular Architecture: Celestia’s modular architecture allows for greater flexibility and customization in blockchain development, enabling developers to build tailored solutions for specific use cases.
• Scalability: By separating consensus, data availability, and execution layers, Celestia can achieve enhanced scalability, handling a higher volume of transactions without compromising performance.
• Interoperability: Celestia’s design facilitates interoperability with other blockchains, enabling seamless communication and interaction between different decentralized applications (dApps) and networks.
• Data Availability Sampling: Celestia’s implementation of data availability sampling ensures that transaction data is properly published and available, enhancing the security and integrity of the network.
• Efficiency: Celestia’s architecture improves the efficiency of blockchain operations by reducing bandwidth and storage requirements, making it more accessible and cost-effective for participants.

Barriers

• Complexity: The modular architecture of Celestia may introduce complexity for developers unfamiliar with its design principles, requiring a learning curve to fully leverage its capabilities.
• Adoption Challenges: As a new project, Celestia may face challenges in gaining widespread adoption and attracting developers and users to its platform, especially in a competitive blockchain landscape.
• Security Risks: While Celestia aims to enhance security through its architecture and features, any new blockchain project may encounter vulnerabilities and security risks that need to be addressed over time.
• Network Effects: Established blockchain projects may already have strong network effects and communities built around them, posing a barrier to adoption for newcomers like Celestia.
• Scalability Limits: While Celestia aims to improve scalability, it may still encounter scalability limits as network usage grows, requiring ongoing optimization and development efforts to maintain performance.

3. TON 

Current Price: $6.12

Market Cap: $21,300,000,000 (Ranked #9 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 3,480,000,000 TON

TON (The Open Network) has gained recognition as a promising Layer 1 blockchain, originally developed by the Telegram team to create a decentralized ecosystem that emphasizes speed, scalability, and user accessibility. With its unique multi-blockchain architecture, TON can process millions of transactions per second, making it one of the fastest blockchains in existence. This high throughput, combined with minimal transaction fees, positions TON as an attractive platform for developers looking to build decentralized applications (dApps) and services.

Furthermore, the integration of TON into the Telegram messaging app provides an inherent user base and facilitates seamless transactions, thereby enhancing the platform’s adoption and usability. As the blockchain landscape evolves, TON’s innovative features and strategic backing from Telegram suggest a strong potential for growth, particularly in areas such as decentralized finance (DeFi) and digital payments.

Benefits 

• High Transaction Speed: TON boasts impressive transaction speeds, capable of processing millions of transactions per second, which is vital for applications requiring rapid interactions.
• Scalability: Its unique multi-blockchain architecture allows for efficient scalability, enabling it to handle an increasing number of users and transactions without compromising performance​
• Low Fees: Transaction costs on the TON network are minimal, making it an appealing option for developers and users, especially for microtransactions .
• Strong Ecosystem Integration: Being associated with Telegram gives TON a substantial user base and facilitates easy access to decentralized services within a widely used messaging app .
• Robust Security Features: TON employs advanced cryptographic techniques to ensure the security of transactions and user data, fostering trust among its users .

Barriers 

• Regulatory Uncertainty: Like many blockchain projects, TON faces potential regulatory scrutiny, particularly given its origins with Telegram, which has previously encountered legal challenges.
• Competition: The blockchain space is highly competitive, with numerous established platforms like Ethereum and Solana vying for developer and user attention, which could hinder TON’s growth​.
• Development Maturity: As a relatively new blockchain, TON may face challenges in terms of ecosystem maturity, including the availability of dApps and developer resources compared to more established platforms .
• Perception Issues: There may be lingering skepticism in the crypto community due to past controversies surrounding Telegram’s initial ICO plans, which could impact developer interest and community support .

4. Sui

Current Price: $0.57

Market Cap: $683,000,000 (Ranked #65 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 1,197,000,000 SUI

Sui is a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain designed for high throughput, instant transaction finality, and user-friendly development. Built by Mysten Labs, Sui introduces an object-centric data model that allows parallel transaction processing, significantly improving speed and scalability. This design enables Sui to handle a wide range of use cases, from decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFTs to gaming and social dApps, without the congestion issues seen on many traditional blockchains. Its Move-based smart contract language offers a secure and efficient way to build decentralized applications, providing developers with flexibility and performance advantages.

A major factor in Sui’s rise is its focus on user experience and developer adoption. The network provides a suite of tools, SDKs, and documentation to help builders create intuitive and performant dApps. With a growing ecosystem of partners, exchanges, and investors backing the project, Sui is positioning itself as a top choice for Web3 innovation. As the network matures, Sui continues to roll out upgrades aimed at boosting scalability, security, and developer support, making it a strong contender in the Layer 1 race.

Benefits

• Parallel Transaction Processing: Sui’s architecture processes many transactions simultaneously, reducing bottlenecks and enabling near-instant settlement.
• Low Fees: The network maintains very low transaction costs, making it attractive for developers and users alike, especially in gaming and NFT applications.
• Move Language Security: Using the Move programming language ensures safer smart contracts by preventing common vulnerabilities found in Solidity-based platforms.
• Developer-Friendly Tools: Sui offers comprehensive SDKs, APIs, and documentation that lower the barrier for developers entering the ecosystem.
• Instant Finality: Transactions achieve finality in less than a second, improving the user experience and enabling real-time applications.

Barriers

• Newer Ecosystem: Compared to older Layer 1 chains like Ethereum or Solana, Sui’s ecosystem is still developing, with fewer mature dApps and DeFi protocols available.
• Developer Learning Curve: While Move is secure, it is also less familiar than Solidity or Rust, which can slow developer onboarding.
• Market Competition: Sui competes with other high-performance blockchains such as Aptos, Solana, and Avalanche, all of which are vying for similar developer and user bases.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: As with other blockchain projects, Sui faces a rapidly evolving regulatory environment that could impact adoption in some regions.
• Scalability Under Stress: While its design is promising, Sui’s performance under extreme network usage still needs to be proven at a massive scale.

Also Read: 10 Best Crypto Yield Farming to Know in 2025

5. Aptos

Current Price: $5.85

Market Cap: $1,540,000,000 (Ranked #30 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 263,000,000 APT

Aptos is a standout Layer 1 blockchain project in 2024, developed by former Facebook (Diem) engineers. It aims to deliver a high-performance blockchain with a focus on user experience, security, and scalability. Aptos leverages a parallel execution engine and the secure Move programming language, which enables fast and efficient transaction processing.

Its advanced consensus mechanisms ensure high throughput and quick finality, making it suitable for a wide range of decentralized applications (dApps). By providing a robust and scalable infrastructure, Aptos is poised to attract both developers and enterprises looking for reliable blockchain solutions, potentially becoming a key player in the evolving blockchain ecosystem.

Benefits

• High Performance: Aptos is designed for high performance, offering fast transaction processing and high throughput, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
• Security: Developed by experienced engineers, Aptos prioritizes security, ensuring robust protection against potential vulnerabilities and attacks.
• Scalability: Aptos is built with scalability in mind, capable of handling increasing transaction volumes without sacrificing performance or efficiency.
• Developer-Friendly: Aptos provides a developer-friendly environment with comprehensive tools and documentation, simplifying the process of building and deploying decentralized applications (dApps).
• Interoperability: Aptos aims to facilitate interoperability with other blockchains, allowing seamless integration and communication between different decentralized networks.

Barriers

• Competition: Aptos faces competition from established Layer 1 blockchain projects with strong network effects and communities, making it challenging to gain traction and adoption.
• Market Saturation: The blockchain space is already crowded with numerous projects, which may make it difficult for Aptos to stand out and attract attention from developers and users.
• Adoption Hurdles: As a new project, Aptos may encounter hurdles in gaining adoption and building a user base, especially in a competitive and rapidly evolving ecosystem.
• Technical Challenges: Developing and maintaining a high-performance blockchain like Aptos requires significant technical expertise and resources, which may pose challenges for the project team.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: Aptos, like other blockchain projects, may face regulatory challenges and uncertainty, which could impact its development and adoption in certain jurisdictions.

6. Kadena

Current Price: $0.62

Market Cap: $160,000,000 (Ranked #270 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 257,000,000 KDA

Kadena is a Layer 1 blockchain platform designed to deliver enterprise-grade scalability without sacrificing security or decentralization. Its standout feature is its braided multi-chain architecture, which links multiple parallel chains together to increase throughput as network demand grows. This unique design allows Kadena to process hundreds of thousands of transactions per second while maintaining the benefits of Proof-of-Work (PoW) security. Unlike traditional PoW systems, Kadena’s consensus mechanism is energy-efficient and designed for sustainable growth, making it attractive for enterprises and developers seeking scalability without compromising trustlessness.

Another defining strength of Kadena is its native smart contract language, Pact. Pact is built to be human-readable and formally verifiable, meaning developers can write secure and easily auditable smart contracts that reduce the risk of bugs and exploits. Kadena also features gas stations—a unique mechanism that allows developers to subsidize transaction fees for their users, lowering the barrier to adoption for mainstream applications. Backed by a strong team with experience from JPMorgan and the SEC, Kadena is focused on building real-world business solutions and powering the next generation of Web3 applications.

Benefits

• Scalable Multi-Chain Architecture: Kadena’s braided chain design scales linearly, allowing it to handle high transaction volumes without congestion.
• Enterprise-Grade Security: Maintains the proven security of Proof-of-Work while optimizing for efficiency and energy use.
• Human-Readable Smart Contracts: Pact makes it easier for developers to build, audit, and verify smart contracts safely.
• Gas Station Feature: Allows dApp creators to pay for users’ gas fees, improving user experience and accessibility.
• Strong Founding Team: Led by industry veterans from JPMorgan and the SEC, providing credibility and vision for enterprise adoption.

Barriers

• Complex Architecture: While powerful, Kadena’s multi-chain structure can be challenging for developers to fully leverage.
• Lower Ecosystem Adoption: Kadena still has fewer dApps and liquidity compared to leading smart contract platforms like Ethereum and Solana.
• PoW Perception: Despite its efficiency, some investors associate PoW with high energy use, which can impact sentiment.
• Competition: Faces strong competition from high-performance Layer 1s and Layer 2 solutions that also promise scalability and low fees.
• Liquidity and Exchange Access: Compared to larger projects, KDA has limited listings and lower trading volumes, which may affect adoption and price stability.

7. TRON

Current Price: $0.11

Market Cap: $9,800,000,000 (Ranked #11 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 87,000,000,000 TRX

Tron has emerged as a promising Layer 1 blockchain, offering a robust platform for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. Founded by Justin Sun in 2017, Tron aims to revolutionize the digital content industry by enabling creators to directly connect with their audience, bypassing traditional intermediaries. Its high throughput and scalability are achieved through a Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism, allowing for thousands of transactions per second at minimal costs.

This efficiency is a significant draw for developers and users alike, fostering a vibrant ecosystem that includes gaming, social media, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Additionally, Tron has made strides in partnerships and integrations, such as collaborations with major cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms, which further enhance its credibility and adoption. As it continues to evolve, Tron is positioning itself as a key player in the future of blockchain technology, particularly in the realm of entertainment and content distribution .

Benefits 

• High Scalability: Tron can handle thousands of transactions per second (TPS), making it one of the fastest blockchains available, which is crucial for applications requiring quick transaction times.
• Low Transaction Fees: The cost of transactions on the Tron network is minimal, encouraging users and developers to engage without the fear of high fees, particularly beneficial for microtransactions.
• Strong Ecosystem: Tron has a diverse range of dApps, including gaming, social media, and DeFi platforms, fostering a vibrant and active community of developers and users.
• Decentralized Content Sharing: Tron aims to empower creators by allowing them to publish and monetize their content directly, without intermediaries, thus enhancing revenue for content creators.
• Active Development and Partnerships: The Tron Foundation continuously works on improvements and has formed partnerships with various companies, increasing its credibility and use cases in the blockchain space.

Barriers 

• Regulatory Concerns: Like many cryptocurrencies, Tron faces scrutiny from regulatory bodies, which could affect its adoption and usage.
• Centralization Risks: Critics argue that the DPoS consensus mechanism may lead to centralization, as a small number of validators could dominate the network, potentially compromising its decentralized nature.
• Market Competition: Tron competes with several other Layer 1 blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, and Binance Smart Chain, which may offer similar or better functionalities, posing challenges for Tron’s market share.
• Perception Issues: There are mixed perceptions about Tron in the crypto community, often influenced by its founder’s controversial marketing tactics and the project’s early history, which could deter some investors and developers.

8. Sei Network

Current Price: $0.39

Market Cap: $1,050,000,000 (Ranked #70 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 2,690,000,000 SEI

Sei Network stands out for its unwavering commitment to performance and reliability. Equipped with cutting-edge features such as fast finality and high throughput, it offers a seamless platform for executing financial transactions with unprecedented speed and efficiency. Sei Network’s architecture is meticulously crafted to minimize latency, ensuring swift and secure processing of trades and DeFi activities.

By addressing the unique needs of these sectors, Sei Network aims to redefine the standards of blockchain technology, positioning itself as a frontrunner in fostering financial innovation. Its strategic focus and robust capabilities make it a compelling choice for users and developers seeking a dependable foundation for their financial endeavors in the dynamic landscape of 2025.

Benefits

• Optimized for Trading and DeFi: Sei Network is specifically optimized for trading and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, offering fast finality and high throughput for efficient financial transactions.
• Fast Finality: Sei Network provides fast finality, ensuring quick confirmation times for transactions, which is crucial for trading and DeFi activities.
• High Throughput: Sei Network offers high throughput, allowing for a large number of transactions to be processed per second, facilitating high-frequency trading and DeFi operations.
• Low Latency: Sei Network prioritizes low latency, minimizing the time it takes for transactions to be confirmed, which is essential for real-time trading and DeFi activities.
• Security: Sei Network emphasizes security, implementing robust security measures to protect against potential vulnerabilities and attacks, ensuring the safety of user funds and assets.

Barriers

• Competition: Sei Network faces competition from established Layer 1 blockchain projects and other specialized blockchain platforms catering to trading and DeFi, making it challenging to gain traction and adoption.
• Adoption Hurdles: As a new project, Sei Network may encounter hurdles in gaining adoption and building a user base, especially in a competitive and rapidly evolving ecosystem.
• Technical Challenges: Developing and maintaining a blockchain optimized for trading and DeFi, like Sei Network, requires significant technical expertise and resources, which may pose challenges for the project team.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: Sei Network, like other blockchain projects, may face regulatory challenges and uncertainty, especially in the highly regulated financial sector, which could impact its development and adoption in certain jurisdictions.
• Interoperability: Sei Network may face challenges in achieving interoperability with other blockchains and decentralized networks, limiting its potential for integration and collaboration with existing platforms.

9. Mantra

Current Price: $0.68

Market Cap: $560,000,000 (Ranked #140 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 820,000,000 OM

Mantra is emerging as a promising Layer 1 blockchain, designed to enhance decentralized finance (DeFi) through a robust infrastructure that prioritizes security, scalability, and user empowerment. Focused on fostering a community-driven ecosystem, Mantra utilizes a unique approach that combines aspects of both DeFi and traditional finance, allowing users to earn rewards through staking and governance participation.

Its architecture facilitates the creation of decentralized applications (dApps) that leverage the power of the blockchain while maintaining user-friendly interfaces, making it accessible to a broader audience​. Additionally, Mantra’s commitment to privacy and transparency, paired with its innovative features such as cross-chain compatibility, positions it as a competitive player in the evolving blockchain landscape. As the DeFi space continues to grow, Mantra’s unique offerings and strong community engagement are likely to attract attention from developers and users alike, further solidifying its place as a noteworthy Layer 1 blockchain

Benefits 

• Community-Driven Ecosystem: Mantra emphasizes community participation in governance and decision-making, fostering a sense of ownership among its users.
• Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Focus: By integrating DeFi features such as staking, lending, and governance, Mantra offers users the ability to earn rewards and actively participate in the ecosystem​.
• User-Friendly Interface: The platform is designed to be accessible, allowing users, even those unfamiliar with blockchain technology, to navigate and utilize its services easily​.
• Privacy and Security: Mantra prioritizes user privacy and employs robust security measures to protect users’ assets and personal information.
• Cross-Chain Compatibility: The ability to interact with multiple blockchains enhances Mantra’s utility and opens up various use cases for users and developers.

Barriers 

• Market Competition: Mantra faces significant competition from other established DeFi platforms and Layer 1 blockchains, making it challenging to attract users.
• Regulatory Risks: As with many blockchain projects, regulatory uncertainties could pose challenges to Mantra’s operations and growth in different regions​.
• Complexity for New Users: While aimed at being user-friendly, the underlying complexities of blockchain technology may still present a barrier for newcomers​.
• Market Volatility: The cryptocurrency market is notoriously volatile, which may affect the stability of Mantra’s token and the overall platform’s adoption​.

10. ZetaChain

Current Price: $1.12

Market Cap: $275,000,000 (Ranked #220 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 245,000,000 ZETA

ZetaChain has emerged as a promising Layer 1 blockchain, focusing on cross-chain functionality and interoperability. It aims to simplify the interaction between different blockchain networks, enabling seamless asset transfers and communication across various ecosystems. With a unique architecture that incorporates decentralized applications (dApps), ZetaChain allows users to engage in multi-chain transactions without the need for intermediaries.

This capability enhances both efficiency and user experience, making it an attractive option for developers and users alike. Additionally, ZetaChain employs a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, promoting security while maintaining high transaction speeds and low fees​. As the demand for interconnected blockchain solutions continues to grow, ZetaChain’s innovative approach positions it as a significant player in the evolving landscape of decentralized technologies.

Benefits 

• Cross-Chain Interoperability: ZetaChain enables seamless asset transfers and interactions between multiple blockchain networks, enhancing user experience and functionality​.
• Decentralized Architecture: By allowing decentralized applications (dApps) to operate across different chains, ZetaChain reduces reliance on intermediaries, promoting efficiency in transactions​.
• Scalable Performance: Utilizing a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, ZetaChain can maintain high transaction speeds and low fees, making it a cost-effective solution for users.
• Growing Ecosystem: As the demand for interconnected blockchain solutions increases, ZetaChain’s innovative platform is positioned to attract developers and users, contributing to its ecosystem’s growth​.
• Enhanced Security Features: With a focus on security and user protection, ZetaChain implements advanced security protocols to safeguard transactions and data.

Barriers 

• Competition in the Market: ZetaChain faces competition from other interoperability-focused projects like Polkadot and Cosmos, which may pose challenges in attracting users and developers .
• Technological Complexity: The intricacies involved in cross-chain technology can be complex for average users, potentially hindering widespread adoption and understanding.
• Regulatory Concerns: The evolving regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology may pose risks to ZetaChain’s growth and acceptance in certain regions.
• Market Volatility: Like many blockchain projects, ZetaChain could be subject to market fluctuations, impacting its value and stability​.

11. Aleo

Current Price: $0.58

Market Cap: $250,000,000 (Ranked #240 in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 430,000,000 ALEO

Aleo is a privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchain that brings zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to decentralized applications, allowing users to interact with dApps without exposing sensitive data. Built with a ZK-based architecture, Aleo enables developers to build fully private applications that still operate in a verifiable and trustless way. This makes Aleo an ideal platform for use cases where confidentiality is critical—such as private payments, identity management, gaming, and enterprise solutions—while still maintaining transparency at the protocol level.

One of Aleo’s key innovations is its programming model, based on Leo, a domain-specific language designed to make writing zero-knowledge applications accessible and efficient. This allows developers to create ZK-powered dApps without having to master the complex cryptography behind them. Combined with a focus on scalability, developer tooling, and privacy by default, Aleo is paving the way for a new generation of Web3 applications where users control their data and on-chain activity is not fully public.

Benefits

• Privacy by Default: Enables fully private transactions and smart contract interactions using zero-knowledge proofs.
• Developer-Friendly Language: Leo simplifies ZK app development, lowering the barrier for building privacy-preserving dApps.
• Scalable Architecture: Designed to support high-throughput ZK computations while keeping costs reasonable.
• Enterprise & Consumer Use Cases: Well-suited for private DeFi, identity solutions, and confidential business applications.
• Strong Cryptography Base: Backed by advanced research in ZK technology, ensuring security and future-proof design.

Barriers

• Complex Technology: Zero-knowledge systems are still technically challenging, which may slow mainstream developer adoption.
• Young Ecosystem: Aleo is still in its early stages, with fewer live applications compared to other Layer 1 blockchains.
• Competition: Competes with other privacy-focused networks like Aztec, Mina, and Secret Network, as well as ZK rollups on Ethereum.
• Regulatory Risks: Privacy coins and privacy-focused platforms sometimes face additional scrutiny from regulators.
• Performance Proof: Needs to demonstrate consistent scalability and stability under real-world, high-volume usage.

12. Taraxa

Current Price: $0.0062

Market Cap: $26,500,000 (Ranked #700+ in the cryptocurrency market)

Circulating Supply: 4,200,000,000 TARA

Taraxa is a Layer 1 blockchain protocol focused on audit logging and trustless data tracking for real-world applications. Its primary goal is to bring transparency and accountability to informal transactions and off-chain data, enabling businesses and individuals to record agreements, events, and decisions on-chain in an immutable way. Taraxa uses a blockDAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) architecture, which allows it to process transactions in parallel and achieve high throughput with low latency. This approach makes it lightweight, scalable, and cost-effective, catering to use cases that need verifiable data without the heavy overhead of traditional blockchains.

One of Taraxa’s biggest strengths is its niche focus—rather than competing directly with massive DeFi or NFT ecosystems, it solves the problem of trust in day-to-day business interactions. Developers can build applications that anchor data logs, monitor supply chains, or track IoT device events securely. The project has been supported by reputable investors and is steadily building partnerships with enterprises seeking real-world blockchain adoption. As its ecosystem grows, Taraxa is positioning itself as a practical solution for transparency in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and legal documentation.

Benefits

• BlockDAG Architecture: Enables parallel transaction processing, leading to higher throughput and faster confirmations compared to traditional chain-based blockchains.
• Low Transaction Fees: Taraxa’s lightweight design allows for very low-cost transactions, making it feasible for frequent data logging use cases.
• Real-World Focus: Targets practical applications like audit logs, agreements, and informal transactions—bridging blockchain with business operations.
• Energy-Efficient Consensus: Uses a PoS-based consensus that consumes significantly less energy than Proof-of-Work networks.
• Enterprise Adoption Potential: Well-suited for industries that need verifiable, tamper-proof records, which could drive long-term adoption.

Barriers

• Small Ecosystem: Taraxa’s network is still in its early stages, with fewer dApps and integrations compared to larger Layer 1 platforms.
• Limited Awareness: Competing with well-known blockchains means Taraxa needs stronger marketing and developer outreach to grow adoption.
• Enterprise Onboarding: Convincing traditional businesses to adopt blockchain-based audit logs can be a slow process.
• Liquidity Constraints: Lower trading volumes and market cap may impact token liquidity and price stability.
• Competitive Landscape: Other chains and Layer 2 solutions are also pursuing enterprise and data integrity use cases, creating a crowded market.

The Broader Implications for the Blockchain Industry

The emergence of new Layer 1 blockchain projects is poised to revolutionize the landscape of the blockchain industry. These innovative endeavors are at the forefront of tackling persistent challenges, ranging from enhancing transaction speeds to addressing pressing privacy concerns. What sets these projects apart is not only their technological advancements but also their capacity to usher in a departure from the conventional, one-size-fits-all blockchain approach. Instead, they pave the way for a new era of specialized, industry-tailored solutions that acknowledge the diverse requirements of various sectors.

The ascent of these new Layer-1 blockchain projects signifies a significant paradigm shift in the realm of blockchain technology. By leveraging cutting-edge solutions, these projects are poised to reshape the fundamental dynamics of how transactions are processed and data is secured. This transformative trajectory not only propels the industry forward but also underscores the importance of adaptability and customization in meeting the distinct demands of different industries. As these projects continue to evolve, they hold the potential to unlock new avenues of innovation and collaboration, ultimately shaping a more efficient and responsive blockchain ecosystem.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

The landscape of new layer 1 blockchain projects brims with immense promise, yet it is not devoid of challenges. Among these projects, the concerns of scalability, interoperability, and security loom prominently. As the industry pushes forward, it becomes evident that while obstacles exist, they also pave the way for opportunities. The key lies in the synergy of collaborations, the propulsion of technological advancements, and the unwavering support of communities. These factors will inevitably shape the trajectory of these projects, determining which among them will genuinely revolutionize the blockchain space.

Also Read: What is Layer 1 (L1) in Blockchain?

In this dynamic realm of new layer 1 blockchain projects, a tapestry of potential unfolds alongside persisting challenges. The intricacies of scalability, seamless cross-platform functionality, and robust security mechanisms continue to be focal points. However, beneath these challenges lies a wealth of opportunities waiting to be harnessed. The driving force will be the harmonization of collaborative endeavors, the propulsion of cutting-edge technological innovations, and the steadfast backing from dedicated communities. It is within this intricate interplay that the fate of these projects will be decided, ultimately separating those that merely exist from those that indelibly reshape the landscape of blockchain technology.

Conclusion

In 2024, the evolution of Layer 1 blockchain projects continues to redefine the landscape of decentralized technology, offering unique capabilities that address the ever-growing demands of the blockchain ecosystem. Each of the 12 new Layer 1 blockchain projects emerging this year brings distinct innovations, from enhanced scalability and reduced transaction fees to improved interoperability and unique governance structures.

For instance, projects like SUI and TON are pushing forward with cross-chain compatibility, enabling seamless interaction between different blockchains, which enhances the overall flexibility and usability of blockchain applications. Meanwhile, platforms such as HeLa and Solana, which focus on efficient processing and transaction speed, are meeting the needs of decentralized applications that demand high throughput and real-time responses, critical for gaming and financial services.

As the industry moves forward, these Layer 1 blockchains will play pivotal roles in shaping a more interconnected, scalable, and user-centric blockchain environment, potentially establishing themselves as core infrastructures for Web3 applications. For investors, developers, and users, these advancements signify a promising shift towards a more accessible and robust decentralized future.