Blockchain technology has seen rapid growth and adoption in recent years, with new projects emerging every day. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most exciting and promising blockchain development projects of 2021 that are worth keeping an eye on.

1. Ethereum

Ethereum is the largest and most well-known blockchain platform, with a market capitalization of over $350 billion. It has been around since 2015 and is used to create and deploy smart contracts, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized applications (dApps). Ethereum’s popularity can be attributed to its versatility and ease of use, with a large and active community contributing to its development.

Use Cases

Ethereum is used for a wide range of applications, including:

• Decentralized finance (DeFi)
• Gaming
• Supply chain management
• Identity verification
• Voting systems

2. Binance Smart Chain

Binance Smart Chain is a relatively new blockchain platform that was launched in 2019 by the popular cryptocurrency exchange Binance. It has quickly become one of the fastest and most scalable blockchains, with transaction speeds of up to 60 transactions per second.

Use Cases

Binance Smart Chain is used for:

• Decentralized finance (DeFi)
• Gaming
• NFTs
• Supply chain management
• Digital identity verification

3. Polygon (formerly Matic Network)

Polygon was formerly known as Matic Network and was launched in 2017. It is a layer-two solution that enables faster, cheaper, and more scalable transactions on the Ethereum network. Polygon has gained popularity due to its ability to bridge the gap between Ethereum’s mainnet and other blockchain networks.

Use Cases

Polygon is used for:

• Decentralized finance (DeFi)
• NFTs
• Gaming
• Supply chain management
• Digital identity verification

4. Cosmos Network

Cosmos Network was launched in 2019 and is a decentralized network of independent, parallel blockchains that can communicate with each other through a protocol called the Interoperable Protocol Suite (IPS). It enables seamless interoperability between different blockchain networks, making it easier to build and deploy dApps.

Use Cases

Cosmos Network is used for:

• Decentralized finance (DeFi)
• Gaming
• NFTs
• Supply chain management
• Digital identity verification

5. Solana

Solana was launched in 2017 and is a fast, high-throughput blockchain that enables the creation of dApps with near real-time performance. It has gained popularity due to its ability to process over 65,000 transactions per second, making it ideal for use cases such as decentralized finance (DeFi) and gaming.

Use Cases

Solana is used for:

• Decentralized finance (DeFi)
• Gaming
• NFTs
• Supply chain management
• Digital identity verification

6. Avalanche

Avalanche was launched in 2018 and is a high-performance blockchain that enables the creation of scalable and decentralized applications. It has gained popularity due to its ability to process over 45,000 transactions per second and has a strong focus on decentralization and privacy.

Use Cases

Avalanche is used for:

• Decentralized finance (DeFi)
• Gaming
• NFTs
• Supply chain management
• Digital identity verification

7. Chainlink

Chainlink was launched in 2014 and is a decentralized oracle network that enables smart contracts to securely access data feeds from various sources, including APIs and price feeds. It has gained popularity due to its ability to provide reliable and accurate data to smart contracts.

Use Cases

Chainlink is used for:

• Decentralized finance (DeFi)
• Gaming
• Supply chain management
• Digital identity verification
• Voting systems

8. Polysign

Polysign was launched in 2017 and is a decentralized multi-signature wallet that enables users to securely store and manage their cryptocurrencies. It has gained popularity due to its ability to provide a high level of security while maintaining ease of use.

Use Cases

Polysign is used for:

• Personal cryptocurrency management
• Business cryptocurrency management
• Investment management

9. Dfinity Network

Dfinity Network was launched in 2018 and is a blockchain that enables the deployment of decentralized applications (dApps) with minimal gas costs. It has gained popularity due to its ability to provide low-cost access to dApps for users around the world.

Use Cases

Dfinity Network is used for:

• Decentralized finance (DeFi)
• Gaming
• NFTs
• Supply chain management
• Digital identity verification

10. Secret Network

Secret Network was launched in 2018 and is a privacy-focused blockchain that enables the creation of decentralized applications with private data. It has gained popularity due to its ability to provide privacy-preserving technologies that enable users to keep their sensitive data private while still participating in dApps.

Use Cases

Secret Network is used for: