PoS vs PoH+PoS
60 DAY WEB3 JOURNEY (Day 15)
Previous: Layer 2 Solutions Deep-Dive: Optimistic vs ZK Rollups
Introduction
Over the past two days, you’ve learned:
Day 13: How consensus mechanisms work (PoW, PoS, DPoS)Day 14: How Layer 2s scale using rollups
Today, you’ll see these concepts in action by comparing two of the largest blockchains: Ethereum and Solana.
They use completely different designs. Not because one team is smarter. But because they made different choices about what to optimize for.
Ethereum asks: “How do we maximize decentralization and security?”
Solana asks: “How do we maximize speed and throughput?”
Today, you’ll understand why these choices matter and what each blockchain sacrificed to get what they wanted.
The Design Philosophy: Two Different Bets
Ethereum’s Philosophy
Goal: Build the most decentralized, censorship-resistant computer possible.
Strategy: If everyone can run a node, no one can control it.
Trade-off: This is slower and more expensive.
Solana’s Philosophy
Goal: Build the fastest, most scalable blockchain possible.
Strategy: Accept some centralization now to prove the technology works.
Trade-off: This requires more trust in validators.
Ethereum’s Approach: PoS + Rollups
The Setup
Consensus: Proof of Stake (PoS)
500,000+ validators32 ETH minimum to validate (~$100,000)Anyone can participate (high barrier, but decentralized)
Scaling: Layer 2 Rollups
Process transactions off-chainBatch and settle on Layer 1Inherit Ethereum’s security
How It Works
User sends transaction
→ L2 sequencer processes instantly
→ Bundled with 1,000s of others
→ Settled on Ethereum L1
→ Secured by 500,000+ validators
Result: Slow Layer 1, Fast Layer 2
Real Numbers
Ethereum Layer 1:
15 transactions per second$2–$10 per transaction12-second block timeMost secure (500,000+ validators)
Ethereum Layer 2 (Arbitrum/Optimism):
1,000–4,000 TPS$0.01–$0.10 per transaction2–60 second confirmationStill inherits L1 security
Why This Design?
Ethereum prioritizes:
Decentralization — Anyone with 32 ETH can validateSecurity — 500,000+ validators make it nearly impossible to attackCensorship-resistance — No single entity controls the networkLong-term vision — Build the foundation, scale later with L2s
Trade-offs
✅ Most decentralized major blockchain
✅ Proven security (billions locked)
✅ Massive developer ecosystem
✅ Clear roadmap (more rollups, sharding coming)
❌ Slow Layer 1 (15 TPS)
❌ Expensive to use directly
❌ Complex (users need to understand L1 vs L2)
Solana’s Approach: Proof of History + PoS
The Setup
Consensus: Proof of History (PoH) + Proof of Stake (PoS)
~430 validators0.5 SOL minimum to validate (~$50)Low barrier, but fewer validators
Scaling: Single-layer design
No rollups neededProcess everything on Layer 1One unified network
How It Works: Proof of History
This is Solana’s innovation.
Normal blockchains need validators to agree on the order of transactions:
Tx A happened
Tx B happened
Tx C happened
Validators: “Yep, that order is correct.”
This takes time because everyone has to check.
Proof of History flips this:
Instead of asking “Did this transaction happen?”, it proves “Did this transaction happen at this specific moment in time?”
Validator creates a cryptographic proof of timestamp
This proof can’t be faked
Everyone trusts the timestamp, not consensus
Result: Order is already proven before consensus
Real Numbers
Solana Layer 1 (single chain):
65,000 TPS theoretical (currently ~400 TPS due to network limits)~$0.00025 per transaction400 millisecond block timeLess decentralized (430 validators)
Why This Design?
Solana prioritizes:
Speed — Thousands of transactions per secondScalability — Single chain handles everythingUser experience — No need to understand L1 vs L2Low cost — Transactions cost fractions of a cent
Trade-offs
✅ Extremely fast (65,000 TPS theoretical)
✅ Extremely cheap (~$0.00025 per tx)
✅ Simple user experience
✅ Growing developer ecosystem
❌ Less decentralized (430 validators vs 500,000)
❌ More network outages (2022 outage lasted 17 hours)
❌ Higher risk of censorship
❌ Novel tech (PoH is newer, less proven)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: ETHEREUM VS SOLANA
CONSENSUS
Ethereum: Proof of Stake (500,000+ validators)
Solana: Proof of History + PoS (430 validators)
SCALING
Ethereum: Layer 2 Rollups
Solana: Single-layer
LAYER 1 TRANSACTIONS PER SECOND
Ethereum: 15 TPS
Solana: 400 TPS (theoretical 65,000 TPS)
LAYER 1 COST PER TRANSACTION
Ethereum: $2–$10
Solana: $0.00025
LAYER 2 COST
Ethereum: $0.01–$0.10
Solana: N/A (no L2 needed)
DECENTRALIZATION
Ethereum: Very high (500K validators)
Solana: Medium (430 validators)
SECURITY TRACK RECORD
Ethereum: Proven (4+ years, never down)
Solana: Proven but newer (3 years, occasional outages)
NETWORK OUTAGES
Ethereum: Rare
Solana: Occasional (2–3 per year)
DEVELOPER APPLICATIONS
Ethereum: 5,000+ dApps
Solana: 800+ dApps
TOTAL VALUE LOCKED (TVL)
Ethereum: $50B+
Solana: $10B+
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Ethereum: Decentralization first
Solana: Speed first
Why Both Exist
You might ask: “If Solana is faster and cheaper, why use Ethereum?”
Because it’s a tradeoff, not a ranking.
Use Ethereum If:
You prioritize decentralizationYou want proven, battle-tested techYou need access to the largest ecosystem (most DeFi apps)You can afford to use L2sYou’re building infrastructure (validators, nodes)
Use Solana If:
You prioritize speed and low costYou’re doing high-frequency tradingYou’re building real-time applicationsYou’re willing to accept less decentralizationYou’re okay with occasional network issues
Reality:
Both will exist long-term because they solve different problems:
Ethereum = “The most decentralized computer in the world”Solana = “The fastest blockchain for real-time apps”
It’s like asking “Is a truck better than a car?” The answer is: it depends what you’re doing.
The Technical Differences Explained
Validator Requirements
Ethereum:
32 ETH (~$100,000)Run a node (commodity hardware)Result: 500,000+ validators worldwide
Solana:
0.5 SOL (~$50)Run a validator (requires serious hardware)Result: 430 validators (mostly institutions)
Impact: Ethereum is more decentralized; Solana is easier to become a validator in theory, but requires expensive infrastructure.
Transaction Finality
Ethereum L1:
12-second blocksFinality after ~15 minutesRock solid
Ethereum L2:
Instant confirmation (sequencer)7-day finality (Optimistic) or instant (ZK)Still secure
Solana:
400-millisecond blocksFinality after ~13 secondsFast but riskier
Security Model
Ethereum PoS:
Validators put 32 ETH at stake. If they cheat, they lose it all (“slashing”). Economic incentive prevents dishonesty.
Solana PoH:
Validators stake SOL, but PoH’s cryptographic proof prevents them from cheating in the first place. Different approach, not necessarily weaker.
What This Means for You
As a User:
Want cheap, fast transactions? Use Solana or Ethereum L2sWant most security? Use Ethereum or Ethereum L2sWant both? Use Ethereum L2s (they give you both)
As a Developer:
Want largest ecosystem? Build on Ethereum (most dApps, most tutorials, most funding)Want to build fast apps? Build on Solana (native speed, no L2 complexity)Want best of both worlds? Build on both (many projects do)
As an Investor:
ETH: Bet on “decentralization and security win long-term”SOL: Bet on “speed and user experience win long-term”Both: Hedge your bets (different risk profiles)
THE BIGGER PICTURE: BLOCKCHAIN TRADEOFFS
DECENTRALIZATION
More: Ethereum (500,000+ validators)
Less: Solana (430 validators)
SECURITY
More: Ethereum (proven 4+ years, never down)
Less: Solana (proven but newer, occasional outages)
SPEED
More: Solana (65,000 TPS theoretical)
Less: Ethereum (15 TPS on Layer 1)
COST
More: Solana ($0.00025 per transaction)
Less: Ethereum ($2–$10 on Layer 1)
The fundamental insight: You can’t maximize everything. Every blockchain makes tradeoffs.
Other blockchains make different bets:
Bitcoin: Security > everything elsePolygon: Decentralization + Speed (middle ground)Cardano: Academic rigor > speedAvalanche: Subnets (let each chain choose)
Key Takeaways
Ethereum chose decentralization and security using PoS + L2 rollupsSolana chose speed and cost using Proof of HistoryBoth approaches work but have different tradeoffsThey’re not competitors — they solve different problemsNeither is “better” — it depends what you needBoth will coexist — like how TCP and UDP both exist in networkingFuture blockchains will make different bets — expect experimentation
Questions to Explore
If Solana has 430 validators and Ethereum has 500,000, could Solana be 51% attacked more easily? Why or why not?Why would someone choose Ethereum’s high cost when Solana is cheaper? What’s the value-add?Could Solana add more validators to become more decentralized? What would happen?Is Proof of History fundamentally more efficient than PoS, or does it just make different tradeoffs?Could a blockchain be fast AND decentralized? What would it need to achieve both?
Series Navigation
60-Day Web3 Journey:
Day 13: Consensus Mechanisms ExplainedDay 14: Layer 2 Solutions Deep-DiveDay 15: Ethereum vs Solana (Current)
Resources & Further Reading
Official Documentation:
Ethereum: https://ethereum.org/ — Official hub with guides, documentation, and staking information
Solana: https://solana.com/ — Official Solana homepage and ecosystem overview
Solana Docs: https://docs.solana.com/ — Official Solana documentation and Proof of History explanation
Comparison & Metrics:
L2Beat: https://l2beat.com/ — Compare Ethereum Layer 2 solutions (TVL, fees, security)
Token Terminal: https://tokenterminal.com/ — Blockchain metrics and analytics dashboard
Community:
Web3 for Humans Telegram: https://t.me/Web3ForHumans — Join daily Web3 discussions
Follow on Twitter: https://x.com/RibsModi — Stay updated with new content
Ethereum vs Solana: Consensus in Action was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.