Scalability is a constant issue in the world of crypto, and sharding could be the answer.
The cryptocurrency industry consists of a vast and complex landscape, where hundreds of little cogs work together to operate a well-oiled machine. There are so many things that can be done on or within any given blockchain, but blockchains themselves can also be split into multiple parts. This is called sharding. But how does blockchain sharding work, and what exactly is its purpose?
What Is Blockchain Sharding?
When many of us think of a blockchain, we imagine a long line or chain of information. So, let's apply this idea to better understand sharding. A typical blockchain consists of one chain of blocks and functions as an individual network storing data in a decentralized fashion. While this is by no means a highly flawed system, the increasing popularity of cryptocurrency and blockchains is posing a serious problem for decentralized organizations: scaling limitations.
As the number of transactions taking place on a blockchain increases, a backlog of un-validated blocks begins to form. This is a significant issue on the Bitcoin blockchain, wherein users have to wait a frustratingly long time for their transactions to process.
Bitcoin's scalability issues are partly the fact that its block sizes are quite small, along with the fact that the Bitcoin blockchain is so popular that developers and miners just can't keep up with the mammoth transaction volume. This is why blockchain companies are now looking toward scalability solutions so that they can better support their users and provide them with a more convenient experience. And, when it comes to scalability, sharding can certainly come to the rescue.
Continue reading: https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-sharding-in-crypto/
The cryptocurrency industry consists of a vast and complex landscape, where hundreds of little cogs work together to operate a well-oiled machine. There are so many things that can be done on or within any given blockchain, but blockchains themselves can also be split into multiple parts. This is called sharding. But how does blockchain sharding work, and what exactly is its purpose?
What Is Blockchain Sharding?
When many of us think of a blockchain, we imagine a long line or chain of information. So, let's apply this idea to better understand sharding. A typical blockchain consists of one chain of blocks and functions as an individual network storing data in a decentralized fashion. While this is by no means a highly flawed system, the increasing popularity of cryptocurrency and blockchains is posing a serious problem for decentralized organizations: scaling limitations.
As the number of transactions taking place on a blockchain increases, a backlog of un-validated blocks begins to form. This is a significant issue on the Bitcoin blockchain, wherein users have to wait a frustratingly long time for their transactions to process.
Bitcoin's scalability issues are partly the fact that its block sizes are quite small, along with the fact that the Bitcoin blockchain is so popular that developers and miners just can't keep up with the mammoth transaction volume. This is why blockchain companies are now looking toward scalability solutions so that they can better support their users and provide them with a more convenient experience. And, when it comes to scalability, sharding can certainly come to the rescue.
Continue reading: https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-sharding-in-crypto/
