Introduction
Recently, we explored Aptos, a next-generation blockchain built using the Move programming language. Today, we turn our attention to Sui, another Move-based blockchain that shares Aptos’ lineage. Why? Both leverage Move, and Sui’s technical team largely hails from Meta’s former crypto unit, Novi Research. Backed by heavy VC funding—much like Aptos—Sui is a prime example of a "capital chain." But how does Sui differ from Aptos? What are its competitive advantages and value propositions? Let’s dive in.
Team Overview
Sui is developed by Mysten Labs, whose R&D team comprises ex-Novi Research (Meta) members. Its four co-founders include:
- Evan Chang (CEO)
- Sam Blackshear (CTO)
- Adeniyi Abiodun (COO)
- George Danezis (Chief Scientist)
With such a strong technical foundation, Sui rivals Aptos in talent—a key reason top VCs continue investing in these next-gen "capital chains."
Funding Status
- 2021: Mysten Labs raised $36M Series A led by a16z.
- September 2022: Secured $300M in a round co-led by a16z and FTX Ventures, with participation from Jump Capital, Binance Labs, and Coinbase Ventures.
Key Features and Differences from Aptos
Move Language Adaptations
Both Sui and Aptos use Move, developed by Diem’s team, but Sui modifies it to center around an object-centric model (e.g., NFTs, tokens, smart contracts). Traditional blockchains like Aptos are address-centric.
Example: When Address A sends an NFT to Address B:
- Sui: Updates the NFT’s owner (Object) from A to B.
- Aptos: Modifies both addresses’ states to reflect the transfer.
This reduces computational overhead, streamlining transactions.
Consensus Algorithm
While Aptos uses AptosBFT and Block-STM, Sui employs Narwhal and Tusk:
- Narwhal: Manages data availability (mem pool for unverified transactions).
- Tusk: Handles transaction ordering/validation.
Sui’s causal ordering lets transactions with dependencies be validated sequentially, while independent transactions are processed in parallel. This boosts throughput, aligning with Sui’s claim of 160K TPS (though current testnet TPS is ~15).
👉 Discover how Sui’s gas fee mechanism prevents validator exploitation
Tokenomics
Sui’s native token, $SUI (max supply: 10B), serves multiple roles:
- Staking: Participate in PoS validation.
- Gas Fees: Pay for transactions.
- Governance: Vote on protocol upgrades.
Testnet users can claim $SUI faucet tokens via Sui’s Discord—though official distribution post-launch remains unclear.
Conclusion
Sui’s testnet has attracted 290K+ addresses and 620K Discord members, but its TPS lags behind its 160K target (echoing Aptos’ early hype vs. reality). Whether Sui outperforms Aptos long-term hinges on infrastructure development and adoption.
FAQ
Q: How does Sui’s object-centric model improve scalability?
A: By reducing redundant state updates (e.g., modifying only NFT ownership vs. both sender/receiver addresses).
Q: What’s the current TPS of Sui’s testnet?
A: ~15—far below its 160K TPS goal, but parallel processing may unlock higher throughput.
Q: When will $SUI launch?
A: No official date yet, but VC backing suggests a major exchange listing post-launch.