What Makes Avalanche Different
The Snow Consensus Mechanism
Avalanche's unique Snow consensus protocol is designed to strike a balance between speed, capacity, decentralization, energy efficiency, and security. When using the Snow protocol, transactions are validated by asking random validators for agreement - a process that repeats until the network reaches a consensus on the validity of the transaction.
The Snow protocol consists of three main protocols: Slush, Snowflake, and Snowball, which build on each other to create an Avalanche (get it?), the final step of the Snow consensus protocol - it's the reason why Avalanche is able to achieve 4,500 transactions per second.
Avalanche Subnetwork Interoperability
First of all, what's a subnet? They're sort of like built-in blockchains that live within the Avalanche network, and they each have their own set of responsibilities to help the network run smoothly. In the case of Avalanche, the x-chain is best used to send and receive funds, the c-chain is best when using DeFi, and the p-chain is mainly used for staking. These distinct groups of customizable networks allow Avalanche to create optimal environments for its users.
The Fastest Smart Contracts Platform
Avalanche is designed to be one of the fastest smart contract platforms available. The network's high throughput and low latency allow for quick and efficient execution of smart contract operations. Meanwhile, Avalanche's subnet architecture enables users to select the most appropriate subnet for their specific use case, which ensures optimal performance for each application.