How to compare blockchain transaction speed fairly
Fair speed comparison uses time to finality, not advertised TPS. Match transaction type and network load, then check mainnet and verify timestamps.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 6, 20263 min readFact-checked
On this page
- Finality rules differ, so one confirmation is not final everywhere.
- Testnet results do not predict mainnet speed.
- Network load changes, so one test is not enough.
Speed claims mix block time, transaction capacity, and finality. A fair method holds every condition steady.
What does transaction speed mean?
Start with time to finality. That is the wait from broadcast to irreversible. Broadcast-to-inclusion is the wait until a block includes your transaction. Inclusion-to-finality is the wait after inclusion until the chain's rules make a reversal impractical, and those rules differ by chain.
How do you compare speeds fairly?
Advertised transactions per second counts capacity, not your wait. Transaction types and network load change how long a transaction takes, so that number alone can mislead. Hold transaction type, network load, and node location constant, and use mainnet. Then follow these steps.
- 1Choose one transaction typeUse the same action on both chains. Different actions need different work.
- 2Confirm both use mainnetCheck the network label in your wallet or explorer. Testnet runs under different conditions.
- 3Record times and waitNote the broadcast time, then find the inclusion block timestamp on a block explorer. Keep checking until the chain's finality rule is met, and repeat under similar load.
How do you verify the results?
A block explorer lets you inspect timestamps and transaction status. Record the raw times and the explorer links.
Frequently asked questions
Explorers may show the time a node first saw the transaction, the block timestamp, or the time the explorer indexed it. Compare the block timestamp and finality status.
No. TPS describes total capacity, while your wait depends on the fee, the backlog, and how the chain orders transactions.
Layer-2 networks settle some activity away from the main chain and later post proof or data back to it. A fast layer-2 confirmation may not equal mainnet finality.
Yes, if you compare the same transaction type, load, and node location and measure time to finality on each. Finality rules differ, so use each chain's own rule.
