Ethereum has wholly revolutionized the blockchain ecosystem. It was the first real network to implement smart contracts, and standardization of ERC-20 tokens is spread today in many blockchains.
But do you know that there are numerous alternatives to Ethereum? Many more than 100 EVM-compatible networks support smart contract functionality. Choosing the best depends on the needs of each user.
In this article, we will present 50 alternatives to Ethereum. Still, if you haven’t already, I suggest you read this article first to get a complete overview of EVM in crypto.
EVM compatibility and Ethereum competitors
Before presenting the 50 EVM-compatible networks, you need to take a step back to understand the concept of compatibility.
EVM compatibility means writing and deploying smart contracts code compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). EVM-compatible blockchains enable interoperability between dApps and other blockchain networks based on EVM features, offering faster transactions and cheaper fees.
The massive wave of mainstream adoption of EVM-compatible blockchains is one of the primary factors contributing to the success of Decentralized Finance (DeFi). In addition, many users fascinated by the features of EVM-compatible preferred to use networks slightly different from Ethereum, with optimal performance, helping several Layer 1 to achieve great success.
EVM compiles different types of smart contract code into bytecode – a standard format that the Ethereum network can understand.
By doing so, dApp developers can deploy the same code on Ethereum. This feature considerably increases the potential for developing blockchains to draw developers to their ecosystem.
Moreover, new blockchains offer early adopters better returns on the money they invest in liquidity or staking pools, which increases the motivation to buy the network’s tokens.
Problems like slow transactions and high gas fees are supposed to be solved with the Merge, Ethereum 2.0 launch, and the migration from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake. Still, scalability remains today a vast issue.
Various permissionless blockchains quickly reacted to the current Ethereum problems by offering lower gas fees and faster transactions. During the last few years, many fully open-source networks have been created, mostly a code fork of Ethereum.
Developers decided to use a particular approach to copying certain Ethereum network parts, which is more beneficial than developing their entire structure in terms of time, knowledge transfer, and interoperability. By creating a space that supports code execution in an environment similar to Ethereum’s Virtual Machines, they do not need to build solutions and protocols from scratch. By doing so, developers can create smart contracts and dApps faster and deploy them to the blockchain efficiently.
In addition, interoperability among blockchains is achieved thanks to the development of cross-chain bridges, which enable users to send assets back and forth between EVM networks. In our last article titled “what is a bridge in blockchain?” you can go deeper about this concept.
Top EVM chains
These blockchains listed below typically provide faster transaction times and cheaper transaction fees, so completing transactions far more quickly and generally for less money.
The design, the smart contract, and Ethereum’s functionalities are almost the same, with a few exceptions.
Binance Smart Chain
Binance Smart Chain is a blockchain built for running smart contract-based applications and is defined as the biggest Ethereum competitor. BSC runs in parallel with Binance’s native chain (BC), which allows users to get the best of both worlds: the high transaction capacity of BC and the smart contract functionality of BSC. The implementation of the Ethereum Virtual Machine allows the running of Ethereum-based applications. The platform aims to enable developers to build dApps and help users manage their digital assets with low latency and large capacity.
Avalanche C-chain
Avalanche C-chain, short for Avalanche Contract Chain, is the smart contract blockchain compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine. Thanks to the Solidity programming language, almost all projects created on the Ethereum network are also deployable on the Avalanche blockchain. The C-chain is accessible through its native Avalance wallet (which includes the Exchange-Chain or X-Chain, and the Protocol Chain, also known as P-Chain), and MetaMask supports it.
Polygon Mainnet
Polygon Mainnet is a multi-chain ecosystem initially developed to address scalability challenges but, with time, has become a whole ecosystem of its own. It is a protocol and framework for developing and connecting Ethereum-compatible networks. The open-source technology enables developers to construct a self-contained network or a secure side-chain that may optionally exploit the Ethereum network security via smart contracts. This network aims to minimize transaction costs and complexity while increasing Ethereum transactions.
Cronos Mainnet Beta
Cronos Mainnet Beta is the first Cosmos EVM chain for DeFi, Metaverse, and NFTs. Its Inter-Blockchain Communications (IBC) protocol enables interoperability and bridging to the Crypto.org Chain and other IBC chains, like the Cosmos Hub. This mainnet aims to link the Cosmos ecosystem and the EVM ecosystem.
Optimism
Optimism is a Layer2 scalable solution built on top of the Ethereum network. Developers have created it as an extension to the Ethereum software to improve the scalability issue. It also reduces transaction fees and speeds up Ethereum transactions.
Arbitrium One
Arbitrium One is a Layer2 network that provides a safe scaling solution to Layer1 Ethereum. It is often defined as an optimistic roll-up that allows smart contracts to scale by passing messages between the main chain and Layer 2. The most important feature is that the transactions occur in the second layer, but the results are recorded on the mainchain to solve efficiency and speed problems drastically.
Fantom Opera
Fantom Opera is a secure, open-source, permissionless environment to build dApps. It is powered by Fantom’s aBFT consensus algorithm and provides full smart contract supports through Solidity, becoming EVM-compatible. Opera’s flagship is speed; a transaction is finalized in 1 second.
Klaytn Mainnet Cypress
Klaytn Mainnet Cypress was launched in 2019 as a BFT-based public blockchain. Its main features are 1-sec block generation and confirmation time, 4000 txp, low gas fees, and support for the execution and deployment of Solidity smart contracts that turn it into an EVM-compatible network.
Kava Evm
Kava Evm is a fast EVM-compatible platform built with the Cosmos SDK. Its main goals are quickness, cheapness, and security. This smart contracts execution environment allows Solidity developers and their related dApps to benefit from the scalability of the Kava Network.
Gnosis Chain
Gnosis Chain is EVM-based and secured by at-home stakers around the world. It is one of the first Ethereum sidechains that uses a series of smart contracts handled by the nodes of the Ethereum network.
Aurora Mainnet
Aurora Mainnet is an EVM-compatible network that runs on top of Near Protocol. It was designed as a Layer 2 on top of Layer 1, combining Near’s scalability (such as 2sec transaction finality and 50x txs) and Ethereum’s developing toolkit. As a result, developers can write smart contracts in Solidity language and port Ethereum applications.
Huobi Eco Chain Mainnet
Huobi Eco Chain Mainnet is a public blockchain that allows developers with a low-cost on-chain environment to run dApps and store digital assets. It was officially released at the end of 2020 with high performance and an excellent cross-chain user experience.
Celo Mainnet
Celo Mainnet Celo is a layer 1 protocol, and its Mainnet was launched in 2020. While the Celo client originated as a fork of Ethereum Go, it has several differences. It supports ERC-20 tokens, and also its native token (CELO) and the Celo Dollar (cUSD) are compliant with the standard. In terms of programmability, it is similar to Ethereum; it runs the Ethereum Virtual Machine to support smart contract functionality.
Fusion Mainnet
Fusion Mainnet is an open-source protocol developed by the Fusion Foundation. It aims to develop innovation in DeFi with an interoperable ecosystem.
Moonriver
Moonriver is an EVM-compatible blockchain environment built by the Moonbeam Foundation on the Kusama network. It is considered a parachain that allows crypto projects to expand their diffusion to new adopters and users with a multichain approach. Furthermore, Moonriver functions as the “canary network” for Moonbeam on Polkadot, meaning that the new code would ship to Moonriver first, where it can be tested and verified before being sent on Moonbeam.
Moonbeam
Moonbeam is an EVM-compatible smart contract parachain on Polkadot that supports EVM bytecode, Solidity, and Vyper languages. It is designed as a highly specialized Layer 1 that mirrors Ethereum’s best features with additional characteristics such as on-chain governance, staking, and cross-chain bridge.
RSK Mainnet
RSK Mainnet is an open-source sidechain built to host smart contracts on Bitcoin. Its purpose is to add value and more functionalities to the Bitcoin ecosystem, bringing it not only the execution of contracts but also instant payments and higher scalability.
Astar
Astar is a Polkadot-based multi-chain project founded in 2019 under Plasm. It is designed as a platform for developing dApps and smart contracts and a scalable decentralized solution for improving web 3.0.
Metis Andromeda Mainnet
Metis Andromeda Mainnet is an Ethereum Layer 2 roll-ups platform forked from Optimism. It offers a suite of products for the Andromeda network, such as DAOs or NFTs.
KCC Mainnet
KCC Mainnet is the EVM solution proposed by the community of the KuCoin Chain.
Hoo Smart Chain
Hoo Smart Chain, also known as HSC, is a decentralized energy-saving public blockchain that allows developers to create a low-cost environment to run smart contracts and dApps.
IOTEX Network Mainnet
IOTEX Network Mainnet is a scalable blockchain that wants to take the IoT to a new level. It uses a roll-delegated Proof-of-Stake (Roll-DPos) consensus mechanism that gives it the speed and scalability to connect IoT devices block by block.
Theta Mainnet
Theta Mainnet is a blockchain infrastructure for media, video, and entertainment that supports Turning-complete smart contracts.
Telos EVM Mainnet
Telos EVM Mainnet is a scalable solution for Solidity-based applications that aims to revolutionize the entire DeFi landscape. It defines itself as the most powerful and scalable Ethereum smart contract platform available on the market. In fact, unlike other scalable EVM solutions, this is not only a fork of the original Go Ethereum code; Telos offers a sustainable solution to the millions of dollars stolen from traders every day on other EVMs and allows users to make micro-transactions and see a profit on DeFi.
Harmony Mainnet Shard 0
Harmony Mainnet Shard 0 is a scalable and secure blockchain with state sharding since 2019. It achieves 2-second transaction finality with four shards, 250 nodes each, and lower fees.
Emerald Paratime Mainnet
Emerald Paratime Mainnet is a decentralized smart contract environment fully EVM-compatible developed by the Oasis Network.
Wanchain
Wanchain is a decentralized blockchain interoperability solution that aims to drive blockchain adoption by building bridges connecting the world’s many siloed blockchains.
Songbird Canary Network
Songbird Canary Network is the canary network for the Flare blockchain, a smart contract platform designed to enhance cross-chain interoperability with the compatibility of the EVM.
OKXChain Mainnet
OKXChain Mainnet is a Layer 1 EVM and IBC-compatible network built on Cosmos that aims for optimal performance and interoperability. It is based on Tendermint and DPos consensus algorithms and allows 5000 txp at a meager cost.
Boba Network
Boba Network is a blockchain Layer-2 scaling solution and hybrid computing platform offering lightning-fast transactions and fees up to 100x less than Layer-1. This technology brings the power of Web2 on-chain for the first time, allowing smart contracts to call any external Web2 API to execute complex algorithms.
Thundercore
Thundercore is a powerful interoperable blockchain and thriving ecosystem, empowering visionary developers to push the limits of what's possible in mobile experiences. It supports 1700 tokens and 400+ tps.
Smart Bitcoin Cash
Smart Bitcoin Cash is a sidechain for Bitcoin Cash and aims to explore new ideas and unlock possibilities. It is compatible with Ethereum's EVM and Web3 API and provides high throughput for DApps in a fast, secure, and decentralized manner.
Velas
Velas is the world's fastest EVM blockchain and open-source platform for decentralized projects and applications, processing up to 75,000 transactions per second with instant finality, extremely low fees, and Solidity support. It offers an extensive foundation to implement dozens of dApps and decentralized projects that boast market-defining speed and equal convenience.
Fuse
Fuse is the decentralized EVM-compatible public blockchain that powers the Fuse platform and ecosystem. It is fully compatible with Ethereum, meaning that any smart contract deployed on the latter can also run on top of the Fuse Network.
Elastos
Elastos aims to be a platform for dApps. However, it should be distinct from other blockchain projects since it's a blockchain-powered operating system. It runs together with other blockchain projects and can be used to run DApps directly on the device instead of a blockchain, thus solving three principal issues of the contemporary internet - security, scalability, and decentralization.
BitTorrent
BitTorrent is one of the largest decentralized peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms. The Tron blockchain and BTTC power it. This TRC-10 utility token is used to incentivize users on the network to provide their computer resources for fast download speed and secure decentralized storage. The BitTorrent ecosystem also features a community-based live-streaming platform where content creators and viewers can earn and stake BTTC rewards.
Godwoken Mainnet
Godwoken Mainnet is an EVM-compatible Layer 2 network that runs on the Nervos blockchain. It allows developers to make use of deployed and audited Solidity smart contracts.
Meter Mainnet
Meter Mainnet is a blockchain infrastructure that allows smart contracts to scale through heterogeneous blockchain networks. It is considered one of the fastest and most scalable solutions on Layer 1 mainnets and sidechains.
Callisto Mainnet
Callisto Mainnet is a decentralized open-source crypto platform based on Go-Ethereum code. It provides developers with a reference implementation of a self-governed, self-sustained, and self-funded blockchain ecosystem.
Nahmi Mainnet
Nahmi Mainnet is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum. It is designed as the ideal platform for blockchain-based applications ready for high-volume use. It offers minimal latency, low and predictable fees, instant finality, and high throughput.
Evmos
Evmos is an EVM hub built on the Cosmos blockchain. It allows developers to deploy smart contracts and assets from Ethereum to use in the Cosmos ecosystem.
Syscoin Mainnet
Syscoin Mainnet is a decentralized public platform that offers high throughput with cross-chain interoperability for tokenized assets, aiming to combine the best features of Bitcoin and Ethereum into a single powerful and secure programmable blockchain development platform.
Tomochain
Tomochain is an EVM-compatible network that uses a Delegated Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism with many advantages, such as fast confirmation time, double validation, and randomization for security guarantees.
Energy Web Chain
Energy Web Chain is a blockchain specific to the energy industry, also known as EWC. It is EVM-compatible, allowing it to run on the Ethereum network using the ERC-20 standard. In addition, it's currently a Proof-of-Authority chain with a modern consensus algorithm built on Parity Substrate technology, allowing it to have low gas fees and latency compared to Ethereum.
Xinfin Network Mainnet
Xinfin Network Mainnet is an interoperable blockchain for global trade and finance, which enables tokenization and digitization, increasing efficiency and reducing reliance on complex infrastructure. It is based on the Delegated Proof-of-Stake (XDPoS) consensus mechanism and is ISO 20022 compatible.
Shiden
Shiden is a smart contract platform for decentralized applications on the Kusama network. It has been designed to support Layer 2 solutions to improve transaction speeds and network scalability.
Nova Network
Nova Network is an open-source programmable smart contracts platform built for decentralized applications using only one highly scalable ecosystem. Its innovation consists of the structure of its hybrid protocol. It is interoperable with Ethereum and is Solidity-native making it easy and quick for Ethereum developers to build, deploy, or fork from existing open-source infrastructure built on other networks.
Ethereum Classic Mainnet
Ethereum Classic Mainnet is an open-source blockchain that utilizes smart contracts. It was born after the hack in 2016 when the original blockchain was split in two, with Ethereum Classic remaining as the “immutable” original chain and Ethereum continuing as a hard fork under the lead of Vitalik Buterin.
Ubiq
Ubiq is a smart contract-based blockchain developed on the enhanced version of the Go Ethereum code. The project aims to provide an enterprise-stable platform by implementing thoroughly tested and well-established EVM code to give an efficient blockchain with greater chain security and network reliability.
Canto
Canto is a layer 1 blockchain that enables accessibility, transparency, and freedom for new systems. It is driven by an organized collective of chain-native builders and provides a new commons powered by accessible public infrastructure.
FAQs
Is Solana EVM-compatible?
Yes. Thanks to The Neon Labs, which creates a compatibility layer for Ethereum’s smart contracts on the Solana blockchain. It works by introducing incentivized Neon EVM operators to the Solana blockchain who facilitate transactions on behalf of Ethereum dApp users. These operators receive Ethereum-like transactions from dApps that use Neon EVM. Then wrap them into Solana transactions, which are sent for execution on the Solana blockchain.
Is Polkadot EVM-compatible?
Yes, thanks to its Parachains, like Moonbeam, for example, that allows crypto projects to work with Ethereum’s environment through API. But Polkadot does not have smart contract functionality on its core, Relay Chain.
Conclusion
Despite the birth of several other Layer1s over the past year that provide quicker speeds and lower transaction costs, Ethereum still occupies a central position in the dApp ecosystem.
The best way to join the vast number of users and the development community that Ethereum has acquired over the years is to take advantage of the benefits of being the first.
Do you know other EVM-compatible networks?
What are your favourites?
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