The Telos Blockchain Network, powered by AntelopeIO, has officially positioned itself among the fastest blockchain technologies available today. With block times of just 0.5 seconds — compared to Ethereum’s average of 12 seconds — and the capacity to handle thousands of real-world transactions per second, Telos is emerging as a leading platform for mass adoption.
Astounding Performance Results
In November 2021, Telos introduced its tEVM, an innovative Ethereum Virtual Machine that operates as a smart contract on the native Telos network. Initial estimates placed its maximum transaction capacity between 4,000 and 6,000 transactions per second (TPS), but recent tests have revealed even more impressive results.
To ensure unbiased and credible evaluation, Telos partnered with The Blockchain Collaborative (TBC) at Baylor University. This student-run organization, dedicated to blockchain education and research, conducted independent tests to verify Telos’ performance claims.
Using a customized testing environment with multiple API nodes and transaction cannons, the team recorded a staggering 15,200 TPS for simple token transfers. This result far exceeded expectations and established a new benchmark for EVM-based networks.
Top Test Results
- Simple token transfers (send/receive): 15,200 TPS
- Swap transactions: 1,826 TPS
- TLOS / wTLOS based on reference AMM implementation
These results were achieved using standard architecture and codebase, without relying on sharding, rollups, or other scaling solutions often used to inflate performance metrics.
Technical Setup and Configuration
The tests were conducted on a environment designed to simulate the Telos Mainnet as closely as possible. Validator nodes from around the world were used alongside standard hardware and the production codebase.
Key Configuration Variables
Two types of configurations were adjusted to maximize performance: per-node settings and global network parameters.
Per-Node Settings:
- OC enable: Overclocking was enabled to maximize execution speed.
- CPU effort: Adjusted to create sufficient transaction backpressure.
Global Configurations:
- max_block_net_usage: Increased to 9,048,576 (from 1,048,576 on Mainnet)
- max_block_cpu_usage: Raised to 500,000 (from 200,000 on Mainnet)
- min_transaction_cpu_usage: Reduced to 1 (from 100 on Mainnet)
These adjustments allowed the network to process significantly more transactions per block while maintaining stability.
Testing Methodology
The team focused on simple token transfers — the closest approximation to an “apples to apples” comparison across blockchains. Achieving accurate measurements required overcoming several technical challenges.
Early attempts to overload the network failed because Telos processed transactions faster than the testing tools could generate them. The team eventually developed a strategy that involved:
- Using multiple transaction cannons firing simultaneously
- Temporarily reducing one validator’s CPU effort to 0% to create transaction backlog
- Measuring actual transactions processed in consecutive blocks
The final results reflect the actual number of transactions executed within a single wall-clock second, not theoretical extrapolations.
Overcoming the Nonce Challenge
A significant technical hurdle involved managing transaction nonces — sequential numbers that must increment with each transaction from a given address. To achieve thousands of transactions per second:
- Each cannon generated 1,000 EVM addresses
- Small amounts of TLOS were distributed to each address for gas fees
- Transactions were bundled into native actions for efficiency
Testing revealed that bundling 5-10 EVM transactions per native action provided optimal performance without significantly increasing overhead.
Real-World Application Testing
While simple transfers provide useful benchmarks, they don’t fully represent real-world usage. The team therefore conducted additional tests simulating DeFi applications.
Using a PancakeSwap clone, they measured swap transactions between TLOS and a test ERC-20 token. The results were equally impressive: 1,826 swaps per second.
This performance demonstrates that Telos EVM can handle complex DeFi operations at unprecedented speeds while maintaining protection against front-running through its unique “no-frontrunning” technology.
Mainnet Implementation Considerations
While the benchmark results are extraordinary, the Telos Core Development team emphasizes that mainnet configurations remain more conservative to prioritize stability and security for existing dApps.
The network will gradually increase its TPS capacity as adoption grows and higher utilization warrants enhanced performance. Notably, even with daily transaction peaks exceeding 30 million, Telos has never experienced network downtime or significant delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Telos different from other EVM-compatible blockchains?
Telos combines Ethereum compatibility with exceptional speed and low costs. Its 0.5-second block time and capacity for thousands of transactions per second provide a significantly better user experience than many competing networks.
How were the performance tests conducted?
Independent tests by Baylor University's Blockchain Collaborative used multiple transaction generators and modified network parameters to measure maximum capacity. Results were verified through external review and represent actual transactions processed.
Can Telos really handle over 15,000 transactions per second?
Yes, under optimized testing conditions. Current mainnet capabilities are intentionally limited for stability but can be increased as needed. The tests prove the underlying technology's exceptional capacity.
Is Telos suitable for DeFi applications?
Absolutely. The network recorded 1,826 swaps per second in tests and incorporates anti-frontrunning technology to protect users from sandwich attacks while maintaining high throughput.
What ensures the security of such a fast network?
Telos uses a delegated proof-of-stake consensus mechanism with 100+ validators globally distributed. The network has never experienced downtime or significant security incidents since launch.
How can developers get started building on Telos?
The EVM compatibility means developers can use familiar tools like Hardhat and Remix. 👉 Explore developer resources and documentation to begin building scalable dApps.
Conclusion
Telos has demonstrated unprecedented performance capabilities through rigorous independent testing. With 15,200 TPS for simple transfers and 1,826 swaps per second for DeFi operations, the network establishes itself as a technical leader in blockchain scalability.
These results, achieved without secondary scaling solutions, highlight the efficiency of Telos' native architecture and its potential to support mass adoption of blockchain technology. As the network continues to evolve, these capabilities will become increasingly accessible to developers and users alike.