Bare metal to get the most of the Aptos blockchain

Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain designed to power the next generation of global finance. Built by former Meta engineers, Aptos launched its mainnnet in October 2022 to address some of the key limitations of existing blockchain networks. 

With high throughput, sub-second latency, and built-in safety through its Move-based programming model, it provides a scalable, upgradeable foundation for applications ranging from trading and payments to gaming and identity management.

{{sumarry}} In this article, we will explore the origins of Aptos, its underlying technology, how it compares to other blockchains, and its adoption by major companies.

What Sets the Aptos Blockchain Apart

Aptos introduces several innovative features that set it apart from other Layer 1 blockchains:

High Throughput and Parallel Execution

One of Aptos’s most distinctive features is its ability to process transactions in parallel using its Block-STM (Software Transactional Memory) execution engine. 

Traditional blockchains, such as Ethereum, process transactions sequentially, which creates bottlenecks and limits scalability. Solana improves on this by using deterministic parallelism, but Aptos takes it a step further with optimistic parallel execution.

With this approach, Aptos can theoretically handle over 160,000 transactions per second (TPS), making it one of the fastest blockchains in the industry. Innovations, such as the recently introduced Raptr, have set Aptos up for 250K TPS with sub-second finality.

Move Programming Language

Aptos uses Move, a programming language initially developed for Diem. Move is designed to enhance security and flexibility for smart contracts, focusing on:

• Resource-based logic prevents common issues such as double spending and unauthorized access.

• Efficiency: Move smart contracts execute faster and use fewer computational resources.

• Modularity: Enables seamless upgrades and feature enhancements.

Compared to Solidity (Ethereum) and Rust (Solana), Move offers better protection against vulnerabilities, such as reentrancy attacks.

AptosBFT Consensus Mechanism

Aptos utilizes a Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus model, known as AptosBFT. This mechanism ensures rapid finality, reducing the risk of chain reorganization and improving network stability. It operates by:

• Validating transactions across a network of nodes.

• Ensuring consistency even if some nodes behave maliciously.

• Enhancing efficiency by separating consensus and execution layers.

This design allows Aptos to achieve sub-second finality, making transactions almost instantaneous. Today, Aptos regularly achieves finality in under 0.5 seconds, with the capacity to process over 2 billion transactions in 24 hours. Additionally, the average gas fees cost less than a hundredth of a cent, making the network efficient, cost-effective, and accessible to both developers and users.

Modular Architecture and Upgradeability

Aptos employs a modular blockchain design, allowing components like consensus mechanisms and execution layers to be upgraded independently. 

This makes it more adaptable to technological advancements and evolving user needs.

Enhanced Security and Reliability

Security is a priority for Aptos, leveraging:

• On-chain governance for protocol upgrades.

• Built-in protections against smart contract vulnerabilities.

• Decentralized validator system to maintain network integrity.

Comparison with Ethereum and Solana

Ethereum processes transactions sequentially and has a relatively low throughput of around 15 to 40 transactions per second (TPS). It relies on a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism and uses Solidity as its primary programming language for smart contracts. 

Finality on Ethereum takes approximately 12 to 15 seconds, making transactions slower than some of its competitors. However, Ethereum benefits from high security and extensive adoption due to its well-established ecosystem.

Solana, on the other hand, employs deterministic parallel execution, enabling it to process up to 65,000 transactions per second (TPS). Its hybrid Proof of History (PoH) and Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus model enhances scalability, while smart contracts are written in Rust and C.

Solana achieves transaction finality in around 2.5 seconds. While it offers impressive speed, Solana has experienced network halts, raising concerns about reliability and security.

Aptos improves on both by leveraging optimistic parallel execution. It utilizes the Move programming language, which is designed to enhance security and prevent common vulnerabilities found in Solidity-based smart contracts. 

The AptosBFT consensus model ensures sub-second finality, making transactions nearly instantaneous. Additionally, Aptos incorporates built-in protections against smart contract vulnerabilities, making it a highly secure blockchain.

While Ethereum has the advantage of being the most widely adopted smart contract platform and Solana boasts high throughput, Aptos combines speed, security, and upgradeability. However, it still has a smaller ecosystem compared to Ethereum and Solana, which means adoption and developer engagement remain key challenges.

Adoption and Major Partnerships

Although Aptos is a relatively new blockchain, it has already attracted major technology companies as partners.

For example, NBCUniversal is experimenting with blockchain-powered digital experiences, and Anchorage Digital is providing institutional-grade custody for Aptos tokens. Recent collaborations with Circle, Bitwise ETP, and tokenization partners such as BlackRock and Franklin Templeton demonstrate that institutions are ready, but they require infrastructure like Aptos that can perform at scale.

These partnerships indicate growing confidence in Aptos’s potential as a scalable, enterprise-grade blockchain. Beyond partnerships, Aptos is becoming a global trading engine on its mission to bring the world’s economy on-chain. And it is well on its way with support for top 3 stablecoins (USDT, USDC, USDe) and protocols like PACT integrating Aptos to bring over $1 billion in on-chain assets from day one.

How Can Aptos Benefit From Bare Metal 

As it should be clear by now, the Aptos blockchain is designed to offer high throughput, security, and scalability through its innovative architecture. 

However, the infrastructure supporting such a high-performance network plays a crucial role in maintaining its efficiency and reliability. In this context, bare metal servers present a compelling solution for validators, node operators, and enterprises leveraging Aptos. 

Unlike virtualized environments, bare-metal servers provide unparalleled performance, security, and cost efficiency—key factors in ensuring Aptos achieves its full potential.

Superior Performance and Low Latency

As you are now aware, Aptos employs a highly parallelized execution model, Block-STM, which enables it to process transactions at an industry-leading speed. Moreover, innovations like Raptr enable Aptos to achieve 250,000 transactions per second (TPS).

Such high throughput requires an infrastructure that can handle immense computational loads without bottlenecks. 

Bare metal servers provide direct access to hardware resources, eliminating the overhead caused by hypervisors in virtualized environments. This direct hardware access ensures:

• Reduced latency for transaction finality.

• Maximum throughput to keep up with Aptos’s optimistic parallel execution.

• Consistent performance without the unpredictable resource contention found in cloud-based virtual machines.

Validators and full nodes can operate more efficiently on dedicated hardware, ensuring the blockchain remains responsive and scalable.

Enhanced Security and Isolation

Security is paramount in blockchain networks, especially those handling high-value transactions and smart contracts. 

Aptos already strengthens security through the Move programming language and Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus. Bare metal infrastructure further enhances these security measures by:

• Providing complete control over the environment, preventing vulnerabilities introduced by shared or multi-tenant infrastructure.

• Mitigating risks of side-channel attacks often found in virtualized environments where multiple clients share CPU, RAM, and storage.

• Offering compliance advantages, as enterprises running blockchain applications on Aptos may need to adhere to strict data sovereignty and security regulations.

For institutions and enterprises adopting Aptos, hosting on bare metal ensures the highest level of security while maintaining complete control over their infrastructure.

Cost Efficiency and Long-Term Sustainability

While cloud-based solutions offer flexibility, they often come with unpredictable costs, especially when scaling high-performance applications.

Aptos validators, indexers, and dApp operators benefit from the cost stability of bare metal servers by:

• Reducing cloud provider markups, which can significantly increase operational expenses.

• Offering predictable pricing, as dedicated servers are leased at fixed rates, avoiding hidden egress or transactional costs.

• Maximizing resource utilization, as all server resources are dedicated to Aptos workloads, improving cost-to-performance efficiency.

For long-term blockchain operations, the financial sustainability of an infrastructure solution is crucial. Bare metal provides enterprises with better cost predictability, making it an ideal choice for Aptos participants.

Scalability and Network Reliability

As Aptos adoption grows, infrastructure needs to scale efficiently while maintaining reliability. Bare metal solutions support this scalability by offering:

• Custom hardware configurations tailored to validator or enterprise workloads.

• Higher uptime and reliability, as dedicated resources reduce the risk of downtime caused by noisy neighbors in shared environments.

• Flexible networking options with direct, high-bandwidth connections that improve data synchronization across the Aptos blockchain.

• Additionally, large-scale Aptos deployments benefit from bare metal providers that offer global data center locations, reducing geographic latency and improving network redundancy.

Latitude.sh Bare Metal and Aptos, The Ideal Union

Latitude.sh fourth-generation of bare metal servers can provide an optimal foundation for Aptos blockchain infrastructure, offering superior performance, enhanced security, cost efficiency, and scalability.

Bare metal enhances the reliability and efficiency of Aptos validators, full nodes, and decentralized applications by eliminating virtualization overhead and ensuring complete control over hardware resources. 

As the Aptos ecosystem continues to evolve, adopting bare metal solutions will be key to unlocking its full potential while maintaining the network’s high speed, security, and decentralization standards.

Get started on Aptos today! Create your free Latitude.sh account, and enable the best Aptos experience possible with the power of bare metal.