Three desirable properties of any blockchain are:
1. Decentralization: not controlled by a single authority
2. Security: resistant to attacks from malicious entities
3. Scalability: support more and more transactions per second
The blockchain trilemma states that a simple blockchain architecture can only achieve two out of three.
Most blockchain like Bitcoin and Ethereum prioritize decentralization and security. Decentralization is so central to the ethos and goals of blockchain that it lies at the very heart of most recognized blockchains. Security is a core requirement for a blockchain, and in general for any computer system, to be successful and useful.
It follows that blockchains are not scalable, hence they have a low number of transactions executed per unit of time, in particular if compared with payment systems such as Visa.
Looking at the bigger picture, at any point in time there are an incalculably large amount of Ones and Zeros being transmitted around the world. Our position in the vastness of Web3 perhaps represents just a single pixel, but each interaction we make has an overall effect on the digital universe we inhabit. To represent such a vast and scalable entity there is no better means than a fractal, which by its very nature is infinitely scalable and repetitive.
Created using P5.js code, Digital Scalability shows the infinite loop of an expanding and contracting fractal. It is based on an infinity symbol, with dripping pixels applied using a technique known as "pixel sorting" and depicts the delicate relationship between nature and digital art.
With its radiance and repetitive movement, the work asks us to consider and embrace the ever-expanding realms of art, technology and nature - blockchain included. In fact, a partial solution to the blockchain trilemma is achieved with layer 2 (L2) solutions. L2 is a collective term for scaling solutions that handle transactions off layer 1 (L1) standard blockchains. Examples of layer 2 projects include the Lightning Network on top of Bitcoin and rollups on Ethereum.
In particular, rollups bundle hundreds of transactions into a single transaction on L1. This distributes the L1 transaction fees across everyone in the rollup, making it cheaper for each user. Rollup transactions get executed outside of L1 but the transaction data gets posted to L1. By posting transaction data onto L1, rollups inherit the security of Ethereum.
However, compared with the security of a mature blockchain with numerous nodes around the world, L2 applications can be operated on much smaller numbers of nodes, which could be controlled or manipulated by a centralized authority. Hence, the decentralization property is partially compromised. It seems we cannot escape the blockchain trilemma!
