What is TPS?
In the blockchain world, transactions per second (TPS) metrics measure the number of transactions a blockchain can process in a second.
For example, Ethereum processes around 12-15 transactions per second on average, while Bitcoin processes roughly 6-8.
Types of TPS
Not all TPS metrics are the same. There are 3 most common types of TPS:
Real-time TPS
Max Recorded TPS
Max Theoretical TPS
Real-time TPS
Real-time TPS shows how many transactions per second the blockchain is processing. It’s probably the most important of all three metrics because it is based on real-time blockchain data and can’t be inflated. It shows the adoption level of the blockchain and its actual throughput.
Real-time TPS was one of the first metrics we tracked, so it goes first on our dashboard.
Max Recorded TPS
Max recorded TPS indicates the peak TPS blockchain has ever reached. It shows how many transactions a blockchain can process during times of high workload. Typically, it happens when the market is volatile, and a lot of people want to transact at the same time.
Max Theoretical TPS
Max theoretical TPS shows how many transactions per second the blockchain is theoretically capable of handling. To calculate this metric, divide the block size measured in gas or bytes by the size of the smallest transaction possible. In most blockchains, the least possible transaction is a transfer of a native token.
For example, the Ethereum block size is 30 million gas, the block time is 12 seconds, and the transfer of Ether takes 21,000 of gas. It means each block can contain 30 million / 21,000 = 1428 transactions. So, the maximum theoretical TPS is 1428 transactions / 12s = 119 transactions per second. Of course, the reality is often different due to the different block times, block sizes, and other real-world nuances.
Real blockchain TPS
At Chainspect, we track TPS for all our blockchains in real time and show it on the dashboard and individual chain pages. For example, here is the Ethereum chain page.
TPS and Max TPS are dynamic metrics, so check them regularly to get the full picture.
The following metrics are relevant on Apr 3, 2024. For real-time metrics just click on your favorite blockchain to open its chain page or go to the dashboard.
- Aeternity TPS is 0.09 transactions per second
Aeternity Max TPS is 9.29 transactions per second
Aeternity Max Theoretical TPS is 1,333 transactions per second - AirDAO TPS is 0.2 transactions per second
AirDAO Max TPS is 0.5 transactions per second
AirDAO Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Algorand TPS is 16.24 transactions per second
Algorand Max TPS is 3,227 transactions per second
Algorand Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Arbitrum TPS is 21.32 transactions per second
Arbitrum Max TPS is 380 transactions per second
Arbitrum Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Arthera TPS is 0.92 transactions per second
Arthera Max TPS is 112 transactions per second
Arthera Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Avalanche TPS is 3.73 transactions per second
Avalanche Max TPS is 92.74 transactions per second
Avalanche Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Base TPS is 32.36 transactions per second
Base Max TPS is 135 transactions per second
Base Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Bitcoin TPS is 8.09 transactions per second
Bitcoin Max TPS is 10.92 transactions per second
Bitcoin Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - BNB Chain TPS is 66.72 transactions per second
BNB Chain Max TPS is 1,731 transactions per second
BNB Chain Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - BNB Greenfield TPS is 0.82 transactions per second
BNB Greenfield Max TPS is 3.06 transactions per second
BNB Greenfield Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Cardano TPS, Max TPS and Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon
- Celo TPS is 4.25 transactions per second
Celo Max TPS is 268 transactions per second
Celo Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Cronos TPS is 3.84 transactions per second
Cronos Max TPS is 142 transactions per second
Cronos Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Crust TPS is 0.0006 transactions per second
Crust Max TPS is 0.01 transactions per second
Crust Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - eCash TPS is 0.01 transactions per second
eCash Max TPS is 31.24 transactions per second
eCash Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Ethereum TPS is 14.81 transactions per second
Ethereum Max TPS is 62.34 transactions per second
Ethereum Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Fantom TPS is 2.86 transactions per second
Fantom Max TPS is 181 transactions per second
Fantom Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Gnosis Chain TPS is 1.8 transactions per second
Gnosis Chain Max TPS is 80.9 transactions per second
Gnosis Chain Theoretical Max TPS coming soon - Hedera TPS is 1,544 transactions per second
Hedera Max TPS is 3,287 transactions per second
Hedera Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Integritee TPS is 0.0014 transactions per second
Integritee Max TPS is 0.04 transactions per second
Integritee Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - IoTeX TPS is 0.31 transactions per second
IoTeX Max TPS is 629 transactions per second
IoTeX Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Klaytn TPS is 6.22 transactions per second
Klaytn Max TPS is 3,142 transactions per second
Klaytn Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Moonbeam TPS is 2.12 transactions per second
Moonbeam Max TPS is 15.31 transactions per second
Moonbeam Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - opBNB TPS is 251 transactions per second
opBNB Max TPS is 371 transactions per second
opBNB Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Optimism TPS is 9.14 transactions per second
Optimism Max TPS is 32.87 transactions per second
Optimism Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Polkadex TPS is 0.0036 transactions per second
Polkadex Max TPS is 0.45 transactions per second
Polkadex Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Polkadot TPS is 0.2 transactions per second
Polkadot Max TPS is 112 transactions per second
Polkadot Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Polygon TPS is 45.3 transactions per second
Polygon Max TPS is 282 transactions per second
Polygon Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Scroll TPS is 2.59 transactions per second
Scroll Max TPS is 25.86 transactions per second
Scroll Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Sirius TPS is 0.01 transactions per second
Sirius Max TPS is 0.03 transactions per second
Sirius Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Solana TPS is 877 transactions per second
Solana Max TPS is 1,608 transactions per second
Solana Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Starknet TPS is 1.7 transactions per second
Starknet Max TPS is 31.15 transactions per second
Starknet Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Telos TPS is 2.46 transactions per second
Telos Max TPS is 7.5 transactions per second
Telos Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Tron TPS is 95.94 transactions per second
Tron Max TPS is 236 transactions per second
Tron Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Wanchain TPS is 0.05 transactions per second
Wanchain Max TPS is 147 transactions per second
Wanchain Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon - Zeitgeist TPS is 0.0003 transactions per second
Zeitgeist Max TPS is 0.09 transactions per second
Zeitgeist Max Theoretical TPS is coming soon
Blockchains vs Visa and Mastercard
To put things into perspective, Visa can handle roughly 24,000 TPS, while Mastercard can handle “only” around 5,000 TPS, according to BitDegree.
Keep in mind it’s not a TPS that both Visa and Mastercard typically handle in real-world scenarios. Moreover, Visa and Mastercard are highly centralized systems, so the difference in TPS between them and blockchains is understandable.