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February 13, 2025
Ethereum: Ardor vs NXT – What’s in a name and how do they differ?
When talking about the upcoming Ethereum fork, many of us have been wondering what all the fuss is about. Specifically, we are curious to know more about Ardor, its predecessor NXT (NXT 1.x) and how they differ from each other.
Ardor – The New Blood in Blockchain Ecosystems
In recent months, a new player has emerged on the Ethereum blockchain scene: Ardor. This fork promises to bring exciting changes to the table by leveraging the power of Ethereum’s native smart contract functionality. With backwards compatibility of NXT 1.x, users can seamlessly upgrade their existing assets and protocols from the original NXT.
NXT (v1.x) – The Legacy Fork
Before we dive into what makes Ardor so special, let’s briefly discuss the NXT fork. NXT is an older blockchain with a unique set of features that are still useful today. Although it has been around since 2018, NXT continues to receive updates and improvements from its community. However, it eventually reached a point where it was time for a new generation, namely NXT v1.x.
So, what makes Ardor different?
Now that we’ve covered NXT (v1.x), let’s move on to Ardor (Ardor). Here are the key differences between these two forks:
1. Smart Contract Architecture
Ethereum relies on a gas-based system to run smart contracts. In contrast, NXT uses a different architecture known as “gasless” or “gasless.” This means that users will have more flexibility when it comes to creating and deploying their own smart contracts on Ardor.
2. Gas Efficiency
Gas efficiency refers to the ability of Ethereum’s block processing power to handle large transaction volumes without consuming excessive energy. NXT, being a gas-based system, was designed with energy efficiency in mind, but at a cost. This has resulted in higher transaction fees and slower transaction times on NXT.
3. Custom Smart Contract Platform
Ardor features a custom smart contract platform that allows developers to create complex contracts without worrying about the underlying architecture of Ethereum. This flexibility makes Ardor an attractive option for building decentralized applications (dApps).
4. Backward Compatibility
As mentioned above, Ardor has backward compatibility with NXT 1.x assets and protocols. This means that users can easily transition from NXT to Ardor without significant changes.
Conclusion: What’s in a Name?
In conclusion, the recent announcement of Ardor as the successor to NXT v1.x is a welcome change for many developers and users on the Ethereum blockchain. By leveraging the power of Ethereum’s native smart contract functionality, Ardor promises to bring exciting new features and capabilities to the table.
While NXT will continue to be supported to some extent, it’s clear that Ardor represents an evolution of the ecosystem rather than a radical departure from its predecessor. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just want to get in on the blockchain movement, Ardor is definitely worth a try.