Starknet has achieved a major milestone in blockchain performance, setting a new benchmark for Layer 2 (L2) networks by averaging 127 transactions per second (TPS) over a 24-hour period on October 29. This record-breaking sustained throughput demonstrates Starknet’s readiness for mass adoption and positions it as a leading force in scalable, high-performance blockchain infrastructure.
With average confirmation times under 2 seconds and transaction fees as low as $0.002, Starknet is redefining what’s possible for decentralized applications (dApps) in gaming, DeFi, and NFTs. But how did it get here? And what does this mean for the future of blockchain scalability?
Let’s dive into the technical breakthroughs, user experience innovations, and upcoming upgrades that are driving Starknet’s unprecedented growth.
The Performance Trifecta: Speed, Cost, and Throughput
Blockchain scalability is typically measured across three core dimensions:
- Transaction throughput (TPS)
- Confirmation speed
- Transaction cost
Starknet now leads the L2 landscape by excelling in all three.
On October 29, Starknet achieved an average of 127 sustained TPS, a record for any Layer 2 network over a full day. This wasn’t driven by synthetic stress tests but by real-world usage—specifically, a viral tile-flipping game called Flippy Flop built by Cartridge. Players clicked rapidly to flip tiles, generating massive transaction volume without any noticeable lag or congestion.
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This event proved that Starknet can handle intense, sustained user activity while maintaining fast confirmations and ultra-low costs. Most transactions settled in under 2 seconds, and average fees remained at just $0.002—making microtransactions not only possible but economically viable.
These metrics are especially significant for developers building blockchain games or social dApps, where user experience hinges on speed and affordability. Starknet’s performance trifecta makes it one of the few networks capable of delivering a Web2-like experience with Web3 ownership.
A New Standard in User Experience
Beyond raw performance, Starknet showcased a major leap in user experience during the Flippy Flop event—proving that blockchain apps can be as seamless as traditional web platforms.
Thanks to native account abstraction, players enjoyed a frictionless onboarding process:
- No wallet required: Using passkeys, users logged in without installing a wallet or managing seed phrases.
- No transaction signing: Session keys enabled signatureless gameplay, removing pop-up approvals mid-game.
- Zero gas fees: Powered by Paymaster, users played for free—no need to bridge funds or hold ETH for gas.
This combination of features eliminated traditional blockchain barriers, allowing thousands of new users to participate effortlessly. It’s a blueprint for how dApps can achieve mainstream appeal: by hiding complexity while preserving decentralization.
And all of this runs on Starknet’s secure, Ethereum-secured architecture—where every transaction is ultimately verified on Layer 1.
The Engine Behind the Breakthrough
Starknet’s record-breaking performance didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of several strategic optimizations rolled out over recent months, starting with Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade and EIP-4844.
As soon as Ethereum enabled blob transactions, Starknet activated them—becoming the first L2 to pass on major fee savings to users. Blob data drastically reduced data availability (DA) costs, which are typically the largest component of L2 fees.
But the real acceleration came from two key upgrades in Starknet’s v0.13.2 "Bolt" release:
1. Block Packing
Block packing decouples L2 block frequency from L1 posting costs. Instead of batching transactions at fixed intervals, the sequencer dynamically packs blocks based on demand—improving resource efficiency and reducing latency.
As a result:
- 80% of transactions now confirm in under 2 seconds
- Fixed L1 costs per user drop as network usage increases
This counterintuitive economic model—where costs decrease with scale—is a game-changer for mass adoption.
2. Parallel Execution
Inspired by Aptos’ Block-STM model, Starknet implemented parallel transaction execution, allowing independent transactions to be processed simultaneously rather than sequentially.
This innovation significantly boosts throughput and makes better use of computational resources. Notably, Starknet was the first L2 on mainnet to deploy this feature—giving it a critical edge in performance and scalability.
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These upgrades laid the foundation for sustained high TPS and positioned Starknet to support future use cases like real-time gaming, social feeds, and high-frequency DeFi protocols.
What’s Next? The Road Ahead
The Bolt upgrade was just the beginning. Starknet’s roadmap includes several upcoming enhancements designed to push performance even further:
Stateless Compression (v0.13.3)
Set for release in November, this feature will reduce variable DA costs by compressing state data before posting to Ethereum. Even if blob prices spike, Starknet can maintain ultra-low fees—ensuring long-term cost predictability.
Cairo-Native Integration
In collaboration with LambdaClass and Nethermind, Starknet will integrate Cairo-Native into its sequencer (v0.13.4 or later). This highly optimized execution engine will accelerate transaction processing and could unlock TPS levels beyond current limits.
Stwo Prover (Q2 2025)
StarkWare’s next-generation prover, Stwo, is set to launch in early 2025. When integrated with SHARP—the current proving system—it will dramatically reduce cloud computation costs and increase proving efficiency.
Together, these upgrades will make Starknet faster, cheaper, and more scalable—without compromising security or decentralization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is sustained TPS, and why does it matter?
A: Sustained TPS measures average transaction throughput over time (e.g., 24 hours). Unlike peak TPS, it reflects real-world network capacity under continuous load—making it a more reliable indicator of scalability.
Q: How does Starknet achieve such low fees?
A: Through EIP-4844 blob storage, block packing efficiency, and upcoming stateless compression. These reduce data posted to Ethereum—the primary cost driver for L2s.
Q: Can other L2s match Starknet’s performance?
A: While some networks achieve high peak TPS, few sustain it over long periods. Starknet combines high throughput with fast finality and low fees—setting a new standard for L2 performance.
Q: What role does account abstraction play in UX?
A: Native account abstraction enables passkeys, session keys, and Paymaster—removing wallet setup, transaction prompts, and gas payments. This creates a seamless, app-like experience.
Q: Is Starknet secure despite its speed?
A: Yes. All transactions are secured by Ethereum via zero-knowledge proofs. Speed doesn’t compromise security—the network remains trust-minimized and decentralized.
Q: How can developers build on Starknet?
A: Using Cairo, Starknet’s purpose-built language for ZK-friendly smart contracts. Tools like Hardhat support and Cartridge’s SDK make development fast and accessible.
Final Thoughts
Starknet’s achievement of 127 sustained TPS marks a turning point in blockchain scalability. It proves that Layer 2 networks can support real-time, high-volume applications without sacrificing decentralization or affordability.
With continuous optimizations—from parallel execution to upcoming prover upgrades—Starknet is not just keeping pace with demand but staying ahead of it.
For developers, this means building dApps that were previously impractical due to cost or latency. For users, it means experiencing Web3 apps that feel instant, free, and intuitive.
The era of performant, user-centric blockchains is here—and Starknet is leading the charge.
👉 Explore how developers are leveraging high-performance L2s today.