Ethereum vs Solana: A Comparative Study of Blockchain Architecture on Performance, Security, and Ecosystem Development

Blockchain technology has emerged as a breakthrough in decentralized systems. The development of applications, systems, programs, and financial solutions can now be managed in a decentralized manner, revolutionizing the previously centralized paradigm. In this new system, performance, scalability, transaction costs, and network security present both challenges and compelling topics for research. This paper conducts a comparative analysis through experiments and evaluations of Ethereum and Solana, the two largest Layer 1 blockchain networks today. The comparison focuses on performance, consensus mechanisms, security, and ecosystem development. Performance is assessed through Transactions Per Second (TPS) and latency, while gas fees are compared under different network conditions. The study also analyzes Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake (PoS) versus Solana’s Proof-of-History (PoH) + PoS consensus mechanisms. Network security is examined by reviewing historical vulnerabilities and corresponding responses. The DApp (Decentralized Application) ecosystem is evaluated based on Adoption Efficiency Index (AEI) and sector specialization (DeFi, NFT, gaming). Through this analysis, the paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of the differences, strengths, and weaknesses of both networks, helping developers choose the most suitable blockchain platform.