As long as you can understand public chains, you can basically understand Web3. Although there appear to be hundreds of public chains, there are actually fewer than 200 that are truly active. Looking at core indicators such as TVL, the number of protocols, and token market capitalization, the top 10 public chains account for more than 70% of the overall public chain share.
So, as long as you can understand these top-ranking public chains, you will have a good grasp of what public chains are about.
Let's take the top 12 public chains by TVL as examples to see what specific differences they have. First, let's look at the top three: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, which represent the three major types of public chains currently.
Bitcoin system: represented by Bitcoin, mainly used for value storage, with limited smart contract capabilities;
EVM compatible chains: represented by Ethereum, which along with the Ethereum family of chains can run the same set of smart contracts, forming the core of the entire DeFi ecosystem; among the top 12 are Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, TRON by Sun, Base, Arbitrum, Hyperliquid, Avalanche, Linea, and Polygon, occupying nine seats.
Non-EVM chains: represented by Solana, which uses a completely different architecture and language, is fast, but has an independent ecosystem that requires separate wallets and tools. There is also Sui among the top 12, occupying two seats.
Thus, from these three chains, it can be seen that although there are hundreds of public chains, they can basically be categorized into these three major types.
Here's a piece of knowledge: what is EVM? EVM is Ethereum's virtual machine, which you can think of as the operating system of the blockchain. It can run smart contracts, allowing applications to operate on the chain. If a chain is EVM compatible, it means it can directly use Ethereum's code and tools:
Developers do not need to rewrite code;
Users can switch between different chains with a single MetaMask wallet;
The entire ecosystem can quickly connect to Ethereum's resources.
This is why many chains now emphasize their 'EVM compatibility.'
So, how does understanding these public chain classifications help you?
First, determine the chain to which a token belongs.
For example, if you are given a token contract address, you can roughly determine which chain it was issued on. EVM chain addresses all start with 0x, Tron addresses start with T, Solana addresses are a string of 32–44 random alphanumeric characters, and Bitcoin addresses generally start with 1, 3, or bc1. Through these formats, you can quickly identify which chain it belongs to.
Second, know which wallet to use.
Different chains require different wallets; EVM chains can generally use MetaMask, while Solana, Sui, and Tron each have their own dedicated wallets.
Third, funds need to cross chains.
You should know that cross-chain transactions between EVM chains are relatively easy, with many bridges and high liquidity. However, crossing from EVM to non-EVM, such as from Ethereum to Solana, relies on special cross-chain bridges, which are more difficult and carry greater risks.
Fourth, evaluate projects more accurately.
The EVM ecosystem is mature, with many projects and well-developed tools, making it relatively secure; while non-EVM chains may offer great opportunities and potential, they also have a higher failure rate.
Therefore, when you can distinguish between types of public chains, you not only understand a concept but can truly avoid many pitfalls in operations and investments. I hope the above sharing is helpful to everyone.
Welcome to join the community
Feel free to join the community WeChat: BQ221858
Follow us on Weibo: @QuarkMing202
Follow us on Twitter: @xian202766693