---
title: "Blockchain Trilemma"
path: "/contents/tech/core-concepts/blockchain-trilemma"
bannerImage: "https://j9ytchrzkvqpcul7.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/e0570f64-f5ee-499e-bdae-7a567483949f.jpg"
version: "2.3.0"
author: "Hydrate"
createdAt: "2026-01-27T12:35:55.661Z"
updatedAt: "2026-03-16T18:25:43.534Z"
---

# Blockchain Trilemma

<Infobox>
| **Category** | Theoretical Concept |
| **Coined By** | Vitalik Buterin |
| **Radix Solution** | [Cerberus Consensus](/contents/tech/core-protocols/cerberus-consensus-protocol) |
</Infobox>

## Overview

The **blockchain trilemma**, popularized by [Ethereum](https://ethereum.org)'s Vitalik Buterin, states that a blockchain can only optimize for two of three properties: **scalability**, **security**, and **decentralization**.

Most chains make explicit tradeoffs: Ethereum prioritizes security and decentralization (low throughput). [Solana](https://solana.com) prioritizes scalability and security (high hardware requirements reduce decentralization). Rollups prioritize scalability and decentralization (sequencer centralization challenges).

### [Cerberus](/contents/tech/core-protocols/cerberus-consensus-protocol)'s Approach

Radix's [Cerberus consensus](/contents/tech/core-protocols/cerberus-consensus-protocol) argues the trilemma is a limitation of specific consensus designs, not a fundamental law. By braiding consensus across shards — where each transaction only involves the shards it touches — [Cerberus](/contents/tech/core-protocols/cerberus-consensus-protocol) achieves:

  - **Scalability** — throughput scales linearly with shard count

  - **Security** — full [BFT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_fault) security per shard, with braiding providing cross-shard guarantees

  - **Decentralization** — commodity hardware nodes; more nodes = more capacity

The [Hyperscale 500k TPS test](/ideas/hyperscale-500k-test) validated this with 590+ nodes on commodity hardware.