In a recently published public blockchain evaluation, 37 major cryptocurrency projects were assessed, with EOS maintaining its top position in the overall ranking. Two new entrants—Cosmos and Zilliqa—joined the list, bringing fresh momentum to the evolving blockchain landscape. This update, known as the 13th Public Blockchain Technical Assessment, was released on July 30 by CCID (China Center for Information Industry Development), a research arm of the Chinese Academy of Electronics and Information Industry.
The evaluation framework analyzes projects across three core dimensions: basic technology, applicability, and innovation, providing a comprehensive view of each blockchain’s real-world potential and technical robustness.
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Top Performers: EOS, Ethereum, and Tron
EOS continues to lead the rankings, showcasing strong performance in scalability, security, and developer support. Ethereum follows closely in second place, reclaiming its spot from Tron, which now ranks third. While Tron was introduced into the assessment back in February and initially secured second place, its recent drop reflects shifting dynamics in technical advancement and ecosystem maturity.
Ethereum’s rise is attributed to ongoing improvements in network stability, smart contract functionality, and its active developer community—factors that align closely with CCID’s emphasis on long-term innovation and practical deployment.
Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency, ranks eleventh—an improvement from twelfth in the May 2025 assessment. Despite its foundational role in launching the blockchain revolution, Bitcoin's relatively limited scripting capabilities and slower transaction speeds place it behind more functionally advanced platforms in this technical evaluation.
Bitcoin Cash also shows progress, climbing to 26th from 29th, indicating gradual recognition of its utility in fast, low-cost peer-to-peer transactions.
New Additions: Cosmos and Zilliqa Enter the Rankings
Two notable newcomers have entered the 13th edition of the CCID rankings: Cosmos and Zilliqa, both recognized for their innovative approaches to blockchain interoperability and scalability.
Cosmos, ranked 10th overall—just above Bitcoin—was praised for addressing one of blockchain’s most persistent challenges: isolation between networks. CCID highlighted that prior to Cosmos, blockchains operated as silos, unable to communicate or share data efficiently. Cosmos introduces a modular architecture that enables cross-chain communication through its Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, significantly enhancing interoperability and transaction throughput.
“Before Cosmos, blockchains were isolated systems with limited transaction capacity. Cosmos offers a new technical vision to solve these issues.”
Zilliqa, meanwhile, earned recognition for its pioneering use of sharding technology, which allows the network to scale linearly by dividing the blockchain into smaller, parallel-processing segments. This design dramatically increases transaction speed and network capacity—critical advantages for enterprise-level applications.
Additionally, Zilliqa employs Scilla, a purpose-built smart contract language designed to eliminate common vulnerabilities found in Ethereum’s Solidity. Scilla’s formal verification capabilities make contracts easier to audit and less prone to exploits—a major step forward in blockchain security.
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Evaluation Criteria: Technology, Applicability, and Innovation
CCID’s assessment model remains unchanged across editions, ensuring consistency in benchmarking progress over time. The total score is distributed across three weighted categories:
- Basic Technology (65%): Evaluates core technical capabilities such as consensus mechanisms, transaction speed (TPS), security protocols, decentralization level, and functional completeness.
- Applicability (20%): Assesses real-world adoption metrics including node distribution, wallet integration, developer tools, dApp ecosystem growth, and enterprise use cases.
- Innovation (15%): Measures ongoing development activity through GitHub commits, contributor count, frequency of upgrades, and novel protocol enhancements.
Notably, CCID reported a slight decline in average basic technology scores compared to the previous period—an observation that underscores increasing scrutiny and higher performance expectations within the industry.
China’s Evolving Stance on Cryptocurrency
Despite strict regulations on cryptocurrency trading and mining, China has shown growing openness toward blockchain technology and digital asset recognition.
A landmark development occurred when a court in Hangzhou officially recognized Bitcoin as virtual property—a first in Chinese judicial history. This ruling affirms that digital assets like Bitcoin hold legitimate value under civil law, offering legal protection for ownership rights even within a regulated environment.
This decision marks a significant shift in how blockchain-based assets are perceived legally—not as currency, but as enforceable digital property.
In another positive signal, Bank of China, one of China’s largest state-owned commercial banks, published an educational article explaining Bitcoin’s origins and the factors driving its increasing value. While not an endorsement of investment, the post reflects growing institutional awareness and willingness to engage with blockchain concepts at a mainstream level.
These developments suggest that while speculative activities remain restricted, China is increasingly supportive of blockchain innovation and underlying infrastructure development.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why does Bitcoin rank so low despite being the most well-known cryptocurrency?
A: The CCID rankings prioritize technical functionality, scalability, and real-world application over market recognition or brand value. Bitcoin excels in security and decentralization but lags in smart contract support and transaction speed—key factors in this evaluation.
Q: Is this ranking globally recognized?
A: While produced by a Chinese government-affiliated research institute, the methodology is transparent and data-driven. It’s widely referenced in Asia and provides valuable insights into blockchain performance from a technical governance perspective.
Q: What impact do these rankings have on cryptocurrency prices?
A: There’s no direct correlation, but improved rankings can boost investor confidence, especially among institutional players monitoring technological progress. Recognition by authoritative bodies like CCID may influence regional adoption trends.
Q: How often are these assessments updated?
A: Typically every two to three months. The 13th edition continues a series that began tracking blockchain evolution since 2018.
Q: Are U.S.-based projects treated differently in the assessment?
A: No—CCID evaluates all projects based on objective metrics regardless of geographic origin. However, projects with broader international node distribution and multilingual developer communities tend to score higher in applicability.
Final Thoughts
The latest CCID public blockchain ranking highlights a maturing ecosystem where technical excellence drives leadership. While legacy networks like Bitcoin remain foundational, newer platforms such as EOS, Ethereum, Cosmos, and Zilliqa are pushing boundaries in performance, security, and interoperability.
As China continues to refine its approach to blockchain regulation—separating speculative finance from technological innovation—these assessments provide crucial benchmarks for developers, enterprises, and policymakers alike.
Whether you're tracking investment opportunities or researching next-generation infrastructure, understanding these rankings offers valuable insight into where decentralized technology is headed.
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