Coinbase, a leading U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange known for its development of Base, an Ethereum layer-2 solution, has unveiled a new metric, the h-index, to provide a more accurate measure of blockchain network adoption. This initiative aims to address distortions caused by airdrop activities and Sybil attacks, which can skew traditional metrics used to track onchain adoption.
In a recent research report, Coinbase highlighted that significant investments in blockchain infrastructure have resulted in an abundance of blockspace. This increase has reduced the cost of onchain transactions and fueled the proliferation of decentralized applications. However, this shift has also complicated the task of accurately tracking ecosystem adoption as new applications continue to emerge.
Traditional metrics like total transactions or daily active addresses are susceptible to manipulation through Sybil attacks and airdrop activities, which can create a misleading picture of network usage. To mitigate these issues, Coinbase has introduced the h-index, a metric designed to balance the depth and breadth of onchain adoption. The h-index measures the number of addresses that have received transactions from at least the same number of unique sending addresses.
“In other words, an h-index of 100 indicates that 100 different receiving addresses have received transactions from at least 100 unique sending addresses over a specific time frame,” explained Coinbase.
Applying the h-index to various networks, Coinbase found that Ethereum and Base exhibited the highest levels of widespread user activity for the week ending June 6, followed by Arbitrum and Polygon. While acknowledging the metric’s limitations, Coinbase believes the h-index offers a more nuanced view of comparative chain adoption by mitigating the outsized effects of Sybil attacks and providing a broader measure of growth.
Despite the advantages of the h-index, Coinbase also noted ongoing challenges. Differences in blockchain execution environments can affect transaction formats and data interpretation, potentially complicating the analysis. Additionally, the activities of exchanges or other smart contract wallets could distort the metric’s results, as these entities might influence transaction patterns.
Sybil attacks, a well-known issue in the crypto industry, involve a single entity creating multiple fake identities or nodes to manipulate network metrics and data. These attacks can artificially inflate transaction volumes or user activity, distorting the perceived adoption and usage of a blockchain network.
By introducing the h-index, Coinbase aims to offer a more reliable metric that can provide new insights into the comparative adoption of different blockchain networks, helping analysts and stakeholders better understand and navigate the evolving crypto landscape.
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