transactions per second

What Is Transactions Per Second (TPS)?

Transactions Per Second, commonly referred to as TPS, is a metric that measures how many transactions a blockchain network can process and record within one second. TPS reflects the network’s throughput capacity and plays a crucial role in determining whether the network will experience congestion during peak periods.

TPS can be likened to the number of lanes on a highway: more lanes (higher TPS) allow more cars to pass through at the same time, reducing the likelihood of traffic jams. However, even with many lanes, if the road is not smooth (due to high network latency or widely distributed nodes), individual cars may still take a long time to reach their destination. This highlights the difference between TPS and latency.

Why Does TPS Matter?

TPS is important because it directly impacts user experience, transaction fees, and the feasibility of decentralized applications (dApps). Lower TPS increases the likelihood of congestion, forcing users to pay higher fees to prioritize their transactions and endure longer wait times.

For developers, the level of concurrency an application can handle is restricted by the network's TPS. For example, NFT minting events, blockchain-based gaming actions, or high-frequency trading on DEXs may face queuing, failed transactions, or skyrocketing fees if the target user base greatly exceeds the network's TPS. This can jeopardize business stability and reliability.

How Is TPS Calculated?

A common approach to estimate TPS is: TPS ≈ Average Number of Transactions per Block ÷ Block Time (in seconds). This formula is straightforward but may be influenced by transaction sizes, block packing strategies, and other factors.

For example:

• If a blockchain typically processes 1,800 transactions per block with a block time of 6 seconds, then TPS ≈ 1,800 ÷ 6 ≈ 300.
• Bitcoin has a block time of about 600 seconds, and the number of transactions per block varies with transaction size. Its TPS is roughly estimated between 3 and 7. Due to factors like varying transaction sizes and occasional empty blocks, observed TPS can fluctuate in the short term.

It is important to note that TPS figures published by official sources or communities can vary depending on methodology: some report “theoretical peak” TPS, others report “sustained load,” and some may include “system or voting” transactions. These differences significantly impact the reported numbers.

What Is the Difference Between TPS, Latency, and Finality?

TPS measures throughput—the number of transactions that can be processed simultaneously. Latency refers to the time it takes for a single transaction to be submitted, included in a block, and become visible. Finality describes when a transaction becomes irreversible on the network.

For example, a blockchain may have high TPS but require multiple rounds of confirmations before finality is achieved—users withdrawing funds to an exchange may still face delays. Another chain may have moderate TPS but short block times and rapid finality, resulting in a better experience for small payments. All three metrics are interrelated but serve different purposes and cannot substitute for each other.

How Does TPS Vary Across Different Blockchains?

TPS varies significantly across blockchains and depends on how it's measured. As of community data in 2025:

• Bitcoin’s base layer TPS is typically estimated between 3 and 7 (sources: mempool.space and long-term community measurements, 2025).
• Ethereum’s base layer TPS is around 10–15, affected by transaction sizes and block parameters (sources: Ethereum.org docs and community stats, 2025).
• Solana’s non-voting transaction TPS usually ranges from several hundred to thousands; including voting transactions increases this number significantly (sources: Solana official metrics page and community dashboards, 2025).
• Polygon PoS mainnet typically handles several dozen to several hundred TPS under varying loads (sources: Polygonscan and community stats, 2025).
• Layer2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism can reach hundreds to thousands of TPS during peak periods (sources: L2Beat throughput and official status pages, 2025).
• New-generation blockchains such as Aptos and Sui have reported thousands to tens of thousands of TPS during testnets or early mainnet stages, but these numbers depend heavily on test scenarios and measurement criteria (sources: official blogs and community tests, 2025).

When assessing TPS figures, it’s critical to understand the methodology—whether it’s a theoretical peak or sustained load, whether system/voting transactions are included, and whether data comes from testnet or mainnet environments. These factors can drastically alter reported TPS values.

How Can You Check TPS Data?

You can check current TPS data using blockchain explorers and community dashboards:

Step 1: Open the relevant blockchain explorer and review the “Blocks” or “Txns” pages to calculate the number of transactions over a set period. For example, on Etherscan you can observe total transactions in the last 10 minutes and divide by total block time to estimate TPS.

Step 2: Visit dedicated analytics dashboards. For Bitcoin, mempool.space provides throughput and congestion charts; for Solana, refer to official TPS metrics and community sites; for Ethereum and Layer2 networks, L2Beat’s Throughput page offers detailed data.

Step 3: Pay attention to measurement criteria. Check whether system transactions are included, whether figures represent peak or average values, and what sampling window is used. Numbers calculated using different methodologies are not directly comparable.

What Technologies Improve TPS?

There are several main approaches to increasing TPS, each with trade-offs:

• Scaling parameters: Increasing block size or reducing transaction size directly boosts throughput but can raise hardware requirements for nodes and impact decentralization.
• Parallel execution: Processing transactions in parallel “channels”—using optimized account models or parallel VM execution—improves efficiency.
• Network layer optimization: Faster block propagation and data compression reduce communication latency between nodes.
• Sharding and multi-chain parallelism: Dividing the network into multiple shards or collaborating across chains increases overall throughput but adds complexity for cross-shard/cross-chain operations.
• Layer2 solutions: Aggregating large numbers of transactions off-chain (e.g., optimistic rollups or zero-knowledge rollups) before submitting summaries to the main chain can significantly increase effective TPS while maintaining mainnet security.

How Does TPS Affect User Operations on Gate?

When depositing, withdrawing, or interacting with chains via Gate, TPS directly impacts transaction speed and fees. Low or congested TPS may require users to pay higher fees for faster inclusion, resulting in longer wait times.

For example, when selecting a network on Gate’s withdrawal page—such as ERC-20 (Ethereum Mainnet) vs. SOL (Solana)—differences in TPS and block times lead to noticeable variations in actual arrival times. During peak periods like NFT minting events or major project launches, insufficient TPS causes queuing and fee spikes. Users should expect longer waits during these times or opt for less congested networks.

For financial safety, always verify the stability and finality of your target network. Even with high TPS, unstable networks or rate limiting can still result in stuck or retried transactions.

How Should You Assess TPS Marketing Claims?

When evaluating advertised TPS figures, focus on methodology and context:

• Theoretical peak ≠ sustainable mainnet performance. Lab results or stress tests do not represent everyday usage.
• Check if system/voting transactions are included; counting these inflates the number on some chains.
• Testnet vs. mainnet differences: Testnets usually have fewer nodes and more controlled environments, resulting in more impressive TPS.
• Scaling trade-offs: Larger blocks or higher bandwidth requirements can increase node costs and affect decentralization/security.
• Single points of failure and outages: High TPS means little if network failures or censorship degrade user experience.

How To Use TPS Metrics Effectively

TPS is a key indicator for evaluating blockchain throughput but must be considered alongside latency and finality while understanding different measurement methods. Before choosing a mainnet or Layer2 solution for your application, clarify your concurrency requirements and user experience goals. Continuously monitor real-world performance using explorers and dashboards. When using exchanges like Gate for deposits or withdrawals, consider both current TPS levels and network congestion when planning fees and timing—adjust your network selection or timing as needed. Approach advertised figures critically—focus on sustainable load capacity and security to strike the right balance between performance and decentralization.

FAQ

Does Higher TPS Always Mean Faster Transactions?

Not necessarily. TPS only measures theoretical throughput; actual transaction speed also depends on network congestion, confirmation times, and other factors. A blockchain may advertise high TPS but still experience delays during busy periods because that figure represents ideal conditions. Always check the average transaction confirmation time rather than relying solely on advertised TPS.

Why Do Gate Transactions Sometimes Feel Slow Despite High Blockchain TPS?

There are several reasons: First, Gate transactions go through both platform processing and on-chain confirmation—not just dependent on blockchain TPS. Second, real-world throughput during congestion can fall far below theoretical figures. Third, your transaction may be queued behind others. For faster experience, try transacting during off-peak hours.

How Should Beginners Interpret Blockchain TPS Marketing?

Take a rational approach to TPS claims. Many projects exaggerate their metrics—claiming speeds hundreds of times faster than Bitcoin or Ethereum—while real-world performance often differs significantly. Focus on actual transaction data instead of headline numbers; check daily active transaction volume and average confirmation times for a truer picture of performance.

Are There Advantages To Blockchains With Lower TPS?

Yes. For example, Bitcoin’s approximate 7-TPS limit helps maintain its strong security and high degree of decentralization—core aspects of its value proposition. Higher TPS is not always better; different chains make design trade-offs according to their priorities—some focus on throughput while others prioritize security. When choosing a blockchain, weigh security, decentralization, and transaction costs rather than simply pursuing high TPS.

Should I Worry About Blockchain TPS When Trading on Gate?

It’s worth considering but not obsessing over. Gate optimizes routing and settlement internally—so even if a chain’s raw TPS is low, user experience remains relatively stable on the platform. Still, knowing your chosen chain’s TPS helps anticipate potential delays during peak periods; avoid large transactions during congested times for smoother processing.