Blockchain is evolving from a digital currency infrastructure to a basis for digital transformation across all sectors. Since its beginnings, blockchain has developed substantially, and it is expected to continue to expand in the future years. It can alter the way we do business, operate, and complete tasks, among other things. This expansion may be due to the high caliber of developers who constantly push the boundaries of technology in search of more significant innovations. Blockchain platforms and protocols enable blockchain developers to create apps that improve and expand the technology’s reach. From security to accessibility, blockchain technology is continuously expanding. The following list looks at various protocols and platforms by their market value or distinct business models.
In 2021, Chainalysis reported that approximately 20% of all existing bitcoins appear to be in lost wallets, worth a staggering $205.8 billion as of December 2021. Tesla invested $1.5B in bitcoin last year, owning 48.000 Bitcoin to date and making a trading profit of over $250 million from Bitcoin alone. MicroStrategy and its CEO & Founder, Michael Saylor, presented its corporate playbook for acquiring Bitcoin over the past months, making the company the biggest Bitcoin holder with over 120.000 and a profit of $845 million. Bitcoin is the market leader in crypto with a dominance of 42.1%.
The Ethereum Merge is coming up soon. The long-discussed and awaited transition of Ethereum from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake is finally coming closer. Over the last month, more than 9 million Ether has been staked, showing overwhelming support for the transition to PoS. The consequences of the merger are going
to be major: the transaction costs will be reduced drastically, and the energy usage of the Ethereum chain is going to be reduced, improving its carbon footprint and thereby its public perception. This will possibly unfold closer to June/July of 2022, although the exact date remains unknown.