SOL vs APT: The true showdown of Layer 1 public chains is here.

What is the hottest topic being discussed in the crypto world recently? It must be who is stronger between Solana and Aptos. Both chains claim to be super fast and super cheap, but their underlying logic is completely different.

Speed and Consensus Mechanism

How is Solana made?

It uses a black technology called “Proof of History (PoH)” - which is equivalent to giving each transaction a cryptographic timestamp. Validators don't need to worry about the transaction order; they can just arrange them by time. This, combined with the Proof of Stake (PoS), theoretically allows for a TPS of over 65000, while the actual operation runs around 2500-4000 TPS.

What are the downsides? In the early stages, there is a risk of centralization, and it can easily crash when the network is congested (there were quite a few incidents from 2021 to 2022).

Aptos's tactics

Directly process in parallel - use Block-STM technology to allow the network to handle multiple transactions simultaneously, as long as these transactions do not conflict. Combined with the AptosBFT Byzantine Fault Tolerance mechanism, it ensures that validators reach consensus. Theoretical TPS is 160000+, actual around 3000 TPS.

The advantage is greater flexibility, while the disadvantage is that parallel processing has delays, and key business may have to wait.

A Different Development Experience

Solana uses Rust

Fast, with strong security, but the learning curve is steep. Those without a basic programming background find it daunting. The Anchor framework has improved things, but it's still quite hardcore.

Advantages: Mature toolchain, a plethora of library functions, large community.

Aptos uses Move language

This language is specifically designed for blockchain, focusing on asset security. The syntax is inspired by Rust but is more user-friendly, making it highly beginner-friendly. Additionally, Move's formal verification is particularly strong, resulting in fewer contract bugs.

Advantages: High security ceiling, easy code auditing, and native support for parallel execution.

Ecological Status

Solana

• DeFi TVL exceeds 2B USD
• There are 1000+ active developers
• Many mature projects (Serum, Magic Eden, StepN, etc.)
• The NFT market is the most active

Aptos

• Although new, the growth is fast.
• Hundreds of months of active builders
• Leading projects like PancakeSwap have settled in
• With investments from Microsoft and Binance, the RWA (real-world assets) layout is more aggressive.

Cost and Performance Benchmarking

The fees for both chains are really cheap, with the main difference being the block generation speed.

Security Record

Solana

There have been several downtime incidents in history, mainly caused by DDoS attacks and code bugs. However, the repair speed is fast, and there are now over 2000 validators, increasing the level of decentralization.

Aptos

The testnet has experienced parallel execution conflicts, but the mainnet has been basically stable since its launch. There are still hundreds of validators now, and this number will continue to increase in the future. Both chains are continuously improving their security protocols.

How to choose?

Choose Solana if you

• To achieve the fastest transaction speed
• Emphasize mature ecosystems and liquidity
• Engage in high-frequency trading or NFTs
• Not afraid to learn Rust

Choose Aptos if you

• Want the safest smart contract
• Enjoy rapid iteration and experimenting with new ideas
• Optimistic about RWA and enterprise-level applications
• Prefer the development experience of Move language

To be honest, these two chains are not in zero-sum competition, but rather each has its own focus. Solana is the king of speed, while Aptos is the security faction. The crypto world is so vast that there is space for both. The key is to see what your own needs are.