Top 10 Green Blockchains Driving Change

Learning the top 10 green blockchains is a great way to expand your understanding of the challenges to large-scale adoption. Blockchains relying on Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanisms require massive amounts of energy to operate. Thankfully, developers have come up with some innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint while remaining decentralized. Here are the top 10 green blockchains you should know, in no particular order.

SolarCoin (SLR) is a unique project that seeks to tackle sustainability across all fronts. The program entered the market in 2014 and was founded by Christopher Altman, Francois Sonnet, Joe Zitoli, and Nick Gogerty. The goal of the project is to incentivize solar energy via a green blockchain.

To accomplish this task, SolarCoin leverages the Energy Web Chain. This fourth-generation blockchain touts that it is 50 times more sustainable than earlier-generation networks like Bitcoin. It uses the Proof-of-Authority (PoA) consensus mechanism, which eliminates the need for energy-hungry mining operations.

To put SolarCoin’s efficiency in perspective, Bitcoin uses more electricity than multiple developed nations. SolarCoin is a much smaller network but comparingly, the entire blockchain requires as much energy as a normal home and can scale up to Bitcoin’s network size with minimal increases in electrical demand.

SolarCoin empowers users via a decentralized P2P energy market. The Solarcoin energy market offers discounted rates to clients and rewards to energy producers. To claim rewards, producers need to provide meter readings, production statistics, and other supporting documentation. In this way, Solarcoin does its part to make the world a little bit brighter.

Powerledger is another blockchain-based energy trading platform worth your attention. This popular energy market provides a P2P experience that ensures transparency. PowerLedger empowers users through the integration of the POWER utility and rewards token.

Powerledger was founded by Dr. Jemma Green and David Martin to expand the renewables market via blockchain incentivization. Their creation expands on previous concepts to include multiple forms of energy production. Notably, Dr Jemma Green was named the Australian EY Fintech Entrepreneur of the Year due to her contributions to the green energy sector.

One of the main advantages of Powerledger is its infrastructure and grid management software. This software introduces an intuitive interface that enables producers to track, trace, and trade energy in real time. This approach is helping to create a more efficient and reliable option for consumers and governments.

POWER enables users to trade energy for tokens, services, and other assets securely. The network has a proven track record with integrations into  TDED in Thailand, CUB in Australia, and ekWateur in France. These projects highlight how blockchain tech can help make the world brighter for everyone.

3. Nano (NANO)

RaiBlocks entered the market in 2015 as a sustainable and scalable alternative to the Gen 2 blockchains of the time. The project’s founder Colin LeMahie rebranded the ecosystem In 2018 alongside other popular upgrades. Nano is known for its high performance and low-fee transactions.

Nano is one of only a few blockchain networks that support feeless transactions. This structure makes the blockchain ideal for use within applications that use frequent micro-transactions such as verification systems. The platform introduces a unique block lattice structure to improve performance further.

Nano is a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) network. This structure means that users stake their tokens rather than mine for validation rewards. Staking is the process of locking tokens into a smart contract for a preapproved period. This approach eliminates many of the technical and financial roadblocks to blockchain adoption.

Nano’s development team went to great lengths to help maintain sustainability alongside scalable operations. Today, it’s one of the most energy-efficient and eco-friendly options available. All of these reasons continue to make Nano a popular addition to traders’ portfolios.

Cardano (ADA) is an academic-focused blockchain network built from the ground up utilizing standard scientific and research principles. This history has led the developers to label the project the smart blockchain. Cardano focuses on interoperability, reliability, and accuracy.

Cardano leverages a custom-built Proof-of-Stake consensus called Ouroboros. Ouroborus separates the network into two layers. The settlement layer is where validation processes occur whereas the computational layer is where smart contracts reside.

This structure provides easy rewards for network stakers and high performance for its users. It also ensures that the network can scale vertically to meet the needs of its growing community. Today, Cardano has several high-level strategic partnerships with governments, academic institutions, and research facilities.

ADA is the utility token of the Cardano network. It’s used to access features, pay fees, and reward participants. This flexible and versatile token is one of the best-known options on this list. Cardano is a solid option if you are looking for a reliable blockchain network that leverages proven research strategies to improve stability.

EOSIO is an open-source blockchain ecosystem that launched in 2017 with scalability and reliability in mind. The platform’s developers, Block.one, are well known for their efforts in the past, and EOS is no exception. This scalable blockchain can support the latest DeFI options.

EOSIO reduces energy consumption through the use of a Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism. Users lock their tokens in a network wallet to gain access to rewards and other advantages. This structure democratizes the validation process and removes technical roadblocks to adoption.

EOSIO empowers developers by streamlining the creation and deployment of smart contracts. The platform includes various tools and resources designed to reduce workloads. Additionally, the project also has a strong community and social media presence.

EOS is the utility token used to cover transactions, pay fees, and gain access to the community governance system. Users who stake their tokens can put forth votes and proposals regarding network upgrades and changes. All of these features helped EOS become a well-known token among traders.

Signum Is a 4th-generation blockchain designed to streamline the creation and management of tokenized assets. The protocol enables anyone to enter the blockchain space efficiently and easily create cryptos, tokens, and other digital assets. The ecosystem includes everything you need to trade, store, and transfer tokens.

Signum entered the market with a new consensus mechanism called Proof-of-Capacity (PoC). This protocol eliminates the need for traditional mining. Instead, users store precomputed cryptographic hashes on spare disk space. The more data you hold, the higher your rewards.

This strategy eliminates the need to buy expensive mining gear. It also changes the core mining process from expanding cryptographic power to leveraging unused storage. This consensus mechanism was recently upgraded to the Proof of Commitment (PoC+) system, which further improves performance.

Signum supporters can mine crypto from a traditional PC, making it one of only a few options that still offer this capability. These features, combined with its transparency and scalability, make Signum a smart option for businesses and developers seeking a network that offers tools, resources, and support.

Algorand is a 3rd generation blockchain ecosystem that supports full smart contract programmability. This open-source protocol integrates a host of DeFi tools and developer options to streamline the creation of new platforms. There’s also a P2P lending market that enables users to lend and borrow all types of Algorand assets.

The network’s founder, Silvio Micali, is an MIT Professor and has received multiple accolades, including being recognized as an elite Turing cryptographer. Algorand demonstrates his skills as it provides high performance while remaining eco-friendly.

Algorand leverages a PoS variation called Pure PoS. The protocol prioritizes those who stake more, which incentivizes more users to participate. In turn, the network’s security improves.

Notably, developer bench tests show the network can support 1000 tps, which makes it the ideal infrastructure for advanced Dapps. Additionally, the protocol has a lot of support, including backing from Union Square Ventures. All of these factors make Algorand a project worth keeping tabs on.

8. IOTA (MIOTA)

IOTA is a cool project that integrates the Internet of Things (IoT) as a means to create and secure decentralized networks.  Any device with sensors that can communicate to the internet can be labeled a smart device. As such, There are currently billions of IoT smart devices around the world.

The protocol leverages these units to improve decentralization and lower costs. It accomplishes this goal through the introduction of the Tangle protocol. This system connects IoT devices and enables them to operate like mini-nodes.  Imagine your smart fridge mining for rewards.

Iota’s advantages are that it can handle micro-transactions and has minimal fees. Additionally, it’s lightweight, so it can run on nearly any smart device. This designation also makes it very scalable. Another cool feature is the data marketplace, which enables you to sell your data and secure MIOTA in return.

IOTA has some serious advantages: it has low costs and is very scalable. The system can process transactions in parallel, enabling it to handle massive throughput without congestion. Many firms have taken note of Iota’s potential, which has led to strategic partnerships with Volkswagen, Bosch, and the City of Taipei.

9. TRON (TRX)

TRON entered the market intending to upend the streaming sector. The protocol leverages a decentralized format to solve common streaming limitations, such as last-mile issues. The decentralized structure of TRON means that more users only increase the signal strength rather than weaken it, like in a centralized version.

Tron offers file sharing and supports dapp and smart contracts. The network was created by Justin Sun, a vocal crypto community member. He was wise when he decided to make the protocol EVM-compatible. As such, it’s easy for users to transfer or expand their operations to TRON.

TRON has a large and active online community. The network continues to expand with new exchanges, dapps, and games. This momentum has helped TRON make it to the list of the top 10 eco-friendly cryptocurrencies.

Stellar comes from the mind of another popular crypto legend, Jed McCaleb. This innovative developer was the creator behind Ripple (XRP) and many other notable projects. Stellar shares many aspects with Ripple in that it was designed to facilitate frictionless cross-border transfers.

The main difference between the two networks is that Stellar seeks to serve the business community, whereas Ripple focuses on banks. The network enables businesses or users to easily convert any asset into XML and transfer it quickly and internationally in a permissionless manner.

The Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) provides responsive settlement times and fees. It eliminates the need for high-powered miners. Users stake their tokens and receive rewards for their participation based on the size and time they stake. This structure is the most democratic staking option as participants receive rewards that are predetermined before the lockup.

Stellar puts a strong emphasis on empowering developers. The protocol offers a combination of tools to improve the creation process. As such, it accumulated a lot of support, including 255+ grants. These features and Stellar’s growing community make it a must-know project in the market.

Blockchains Go Green

The increase in alternative consensus mechanisms and blockchain structures has opened the door for a greener decentralized economy. In the future, you can expect to see more blockchains seek out a net zero carbon goal as part of their eco strategy. For now, these top 10 eco-friendly blockchains should help you expand your portfolio and eco-awareness.

You can learn more about exciting blockchain projects here.