Is Sui the fastest blockchain?

How do you measure the speed of a blockchain?

Many blockchains boast about their high Transactions Per Second (TPS). While TPS is a solid indicator of performance, it alone isn’t enough to determine how fast a blockchain truly is—and it can even be misleading.

In this article, we’ll go beyond TPS by combining it with another crucial metric: time to finality (TTF). By evaluating both, we’ll demonstrate why Sui stands out as the fastest and most reliable blockchain for builders.

Defining transactions per second and time to finality

Transactions per second (TPS)

TPS measures the number of transactions a blockchain can process per second. For example, Solana has a theoretical maximum of 65,000 TPS, while Sui can achieve over 100,000 TPS.

Time to finality (TTF)

TTF measures the time it takes for a transaction to go from being submitted to validators to becoming final and secure.

For instance, even if you were the only user on the Bitcoin network and decided to carry out a transfer, you would still need to wait 60 minutes for your transaction to be processed.

In comparison, Solana averages a finality time of 12.8 seconds while Sui achieves finality in just 0.4 seconds, making Sui 32 times faster than Solana.

As consumers, we’ve grown accustomed to lightning-fast speeds. For a blockchain to achieve mass adoption, it needs to meet these same expectations. Speed is no longer just a convenience—it’s a necessity.

Let’s explore why this matters so much in the blockchain space.

Why Time to Finality matters

Time to Finality (TTF) directly impacts the user experience by determining how quickly transactions are confirmed and finalized. In applications like online payments, gaming, and DeFi, where speed is crucial, a shorter TTF ensures a smoother and more reliable experience.

TTF is closely linked to the efficiency of a blockchain’s consensus mechanism. Blockchains with a lower TTF often employ optimized algorithms that enable high throughput (TPS) without compromising security or decentralization.

A lower TTF also minimizes the window of time during which a transaction is vulnerable to network attacks or reversals, enhancing the blockchain’s security and trustworthiness.

In cross-chain applications, where assets or data are transferred between different blockchains, TTF becomes critical. A blockchain with a shorter TTF can interact more seamlessly and securely with other chains, making it a strong choice for projects focused on interoperability.

How does Sui compare to other blockchains?

With its latest upgrade to the new Mysticeti consensus mechanism, Sui can handle over 100,000 TPS and a TTF of approximately 400 milliseconds, making it the fastest blockchain currently available.

The table below highlights the TTF and TPS of other blockchains, showcasing how Sui outperforms them in both speed and efficiency.

Why Sui?

Sui is significantly faster than other blockchains, which is why so many companies are choosing Sui as the foundation for their projects. The speed of the blockchain directly impacts user experience, and ultimately, the success of the business.

Studies show that 80% of users who are dissatisfied with a website's performance are unlikely to return or make a purchase again. 

Now, consider a company building on Solana or Sui and how that impacts their user experience.

On Solana, users need to wait after executing a transaction. On Sui, transactions finalize almost instantly, delivering a seamless experience.

After seeing them in action, the choice is clear.

Time to finality could make or break web3 businesses going forward.

Oh, and we haven’t even touched on PTBs on Sui—that’s a discussion for another time.