The Rise and Fall of EOS and Ardor in 2023

EOS and Ardor, once considered promising contenders in the blockchain space, find themselves in a vastly different landscape in 2023. This article delves into their current worth for investment and whether they can outpace Ethereum, a long-time leader in the blockchain industry.

Understanding Ardor: A Closer Look

Ardor is among the many Blockchain-as-a-Service (Baas) platforms that have emerged in recent years. With a total of 11 Baas platforms currently in the top 100, Ardor is positioned not as a leader but as a mid-tier solution. Unlike VeChain and Icon, which lead the pack with extensive partnerships and support from major global enterprises, Ardor struggles to compete effectively.

VeChain and Icon: Leaders in the Market

VeChain and Icon stand out due to their strong partnerships and technological advancements. VeChain, in particular, has collaborations with numerous Fortune 500 companies, making it a formidable contender in the blockchain market. Icon, too, has made significant strides in creating a decentralized platform for various industries, further solidifying its position as a competitive choice.

BaaS Platforms: Other Decent but Less Durable Options

Below VeChain and Icon, there are three decent Baas platforms, but they struggle to keep up with the leaders. These platforms include WTC, Ontology, and Komodo. While they offer some value, they lack the comprehensive partnerships and technological edge found in VeChain and Icon.

NEM, Ark, Dragonchain, ARDR, LISK, and Stratis: The Weakest Platforms

Below these three platforms, we find six weaker platforms, which fall short in terms of partnerships and technological advancements. NEM, Ark, Dragonchain, ARDR, LISK, and Stratis are often outpaced by their more established competitors due to their lack of innovation and support.

Examining EOS: High Scalability at the Cost of Decentralization

EOS, another platform often discussed in the blockchain space, gained significant attention for its high scalability. However, its design, which relies on only 21 nodes for consensus, is highly centralized and anti-decentralized by nature. While EOS allows the community to select nodes, the fundamental structure remains centralized, which raises concerns about security and scalability.

Decentralized Alternatives: IOTA, Skycoin, and Elastos

Three platforms stand out as decentralized alternatives that excel in the areas where EOS and Ardor fall short: IOTA, Skycoin, and Elastos. Each of these platforms offers unique features that set them apart:

IOTA: Beyond EOS's Capabilities

While IOTA shares similar qualities with Ardor, it also offers decentralized storage, Oracles, and cloud computing, making it a more comprehensive solution. Despite holding a market valuation of $5 billion and being a strong competitor to Bitcoin, IOTA faces criticism for its use of a coordinator to verify transactions until a larger network of nodes is established. However, this is expected to change soon.

Skycoin: Decentralization at Its Core

Skycoin offers not only decentralized storage and smart contracts but also complete privacy. Its most significant feature, Skywire, aims to create a fully decentralized internet that could potentially surpass all cryptocurrencies combined. Skycoin recently launched the testnet for Skywire, marking an exciting phase in its development.

Elastos: A Comprehensive Platform

Elastos stands out as a comprehensive, efficient, and customizable Blockchain-as-a-Service (Baas) platform, operating system, and runtime environment. It offers a wide range of features, making it a robust choice for developers and enterprises. Elastos’s goal is to provide a seamless and secure environment for decentralized applications (dapps).

Conclusion: EOS and Ardor in Comparison to Ethereum

In 2023, EOS and Ardor face significant challenges in outpacing Ethereum. While EOS and Ardor have their merits, the decentralized alternatives like IOTA, Skycoin, and Elastos offer more robust features and a more decentralized design, which are critical in the evolving blockchain landscape. Investing in these platforms may provide better returns and align with the long-term goals of the blockchain community.