{"id":39956,"date":"2022-01-11T13:05:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T12:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coinpro.ch\/uncategorized\/infographic-what-is-the-blockchain-trilemma\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T17:16:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T15:16:45","slug":"infographic-what-is-the-blockchain-trilemma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coinpro.ch\/en\/insights-en\/infographic-what-is-the-blockchain-trilemma\/","title":{"rendered":"Infographic: What is the Blockchain Trilemma?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blockchain Trilemma \u2013 the \u201ceternal\u201d problem of all crypto networks?<\/strong> There is no doubt about the numerous technological advantages of the blockchain. Especially in direct comparison with many traditional databases and systems, most blockchains on the market know how to convince. Nevertheless, there are also some \u201ccritical\u201d aspects to the new technology. This concerns, on the one hand, the scalability, which sooner or later reaches its limits in many networks. Decentralization and network security cannot be endlessly expanded either. Experts therefore speak of the so-called Blockchain Trilemma. <\/p>\n

\"Infographic:<\/a>
Infographic: What is the Blockchain Trilemma?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First of all, this section will provide a brief definition of the three terms scalability, decentralization, and security:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • scalability<\/strong> refers to the ability of a blockchain-based network to gradually process a higher volume of internal transactions<\/li>\n
  • decentralization<\/strong> prevents only a small group of participants in the network from taking control \u2013 the term \u201cnetwork redundancy\u201d is also commonly used<\/li>\n
  • in blockchains, security<\/strong> refers to the ability to protect information stored in the respective network against attacks (e.g. by hackers) and, on the other hand, to form a kind of defensive wall against so-called \u201cdouble spending\u201d in the system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Worth knowing: \u2192 Laypersons in particular run the risk of recognizing the blockchain or scalability trilemma as an immutable law. However, it is by no means impossible for a particular blockchain to function optimally with regard to scalability, decentralization, and security. For a better understanding, here is a brief digression on how and for what reasons public blockchains realize the points mentioned. The Bitcoin blockchain is intended to illustrate the three blockchain qualities mentioned. <\/p>\n

    The Bitcoin Blockchain<\/h2>\n

    A cornerstone of the Bitcoin (BTC) \u201csystem\u201d was the elimination of the \u201cdouble spending\u201d problem \u2013 without the involvement of central bodies. In centrally aligned networks, this problem generally played a subordinate role. The BTC blockchain aimed to make values exchangeable between network parties \u2013 not least through a reduction in trust, which simplifies the process. This reduction is achieved by excluding central network units. Unlike fiat currencies, for example, where central banks act as a control body (or central clearing house), Bitcoin depends heavily on various miners. <\/p>\n

    To ensure that most of the miners involved have sufficient time for transaction checks, blockchain blocks are integrated into the chain with a delay. The fact that this time expenditure is at the expense of speed was quite intentional on the part of the Bitcoin developers. Entirely in the spirit of the desired decentralization. If transactions are to be processed more quickly or, alternatively, scalability is to be increased, the time delay would have to be removed, which would have a negative impact on decentralization. As an \u201coriginal blockchain<\/strong>\u201d, every other blockchain contains technical cross-references and interfaces to the BTC system, to a certain extent. <\/p>\n