In the fast-paced world of blockchain tech, debates over performance metrics like transactions per second (TPS) often heat up, especially between rivals like Solana and Ethereum. Recently, a thread on X (formerly Twitter) from Chase Eberle, a developer at Solana Mobile, stirred the pot by questioning the TPS claims of Lighter, a new Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) solution.

Lighter is a zero-knowledge rollup built on Ethereum, designed for high speed and scalability, particularly as a perpetual decentralized exchange (perp DEX). According to recent reports, the Ethereum ecosystem hit a record 24,000 TPS, with Lighter contributing around 4,000 TPS on its own—outpacing other L2s like Base, which hovers between 100 and 200 TPS. This surge has Ethereum enthusiasts, or "ETH maxis," celebrating what they see as a scaling victory.

But Chase isn't buying it. In his original post, he wrote: "No offense to Lighter blockchain, because it sounds like it might be legit. But claiming instructions as transactions is basically bullshit, unless you actually think you do more TPS than Mastercard."

Here, Chase is highlighting a key distinction in how blockchains measure TPS. In Solana's architecture, a single transaction can contain multiple "instructions"—smaller operations bundled together. If you count each instruction as a separate transaction, it inflates the TPS number dramatically. Mastercard, for reference, processes around 5,000 TPS in real-world payments, so any blockchain claiming far higher figures might be playing with definitions.

The thread drew quick responses. One user from Sendit Markets chimed in: "Sometimes numbers look impressive until you read the fine print 😅," echoing the skepticism. Another commenter, João Mendonça, pointed out that Lighter's design focuses on tiny, unique exchange orders, limiting its ability to batch them efficiently.

Chase fired back with sarcasm: "Well eth maxis are claiming TPS victory. I’m gonna make a SIMD to rename Solana instructions to transactions and transactions to mega transactions." SIMD here refers to Solana Improvement Documents, proposals for network upgrades. His joke underscores the idea that renaming terms doesn't change the underlying tech—it's all about genuine throughput.

This exchange matters for meme token enthusiasts and blockchain practitioners because scaling directly impacts where the next wave of viral tokens launches. Solana has been a hotspot for memes thanks to its low fees and high speed, powering platforms like Pump.fun. Ethereum's L2s, including Lighter, aim to close that gap, potentially drawing more activity to ETH-based ecosystems. If Lighter's TPS holds up under scrutiny, it could make Ethereum more competitive for fast-paced trading, including meme coin flips.

However, debates like this remind us to dig deeper into metrics. True TPS isn't just about raw numbers; it's about handling complex, real-world loads without congestion. As both chains evolve, keeping an eye on these discussions helps builders and traders stay ahead.

For more on blockchain scaling wars and how they affect meme tokens, check out our knowledge base at Meme Insider. What's your take—Team Solana or Team Ethereum?