Mina Protocol: small chain, big dreams
Tags: web3, mina, blockchain, minaprotocol
Published: 2024-04-19 17:20:00


In my X [video](https://x.com/DeniTechh/status/1775955525546434806) and [post](https://x.com/DeniTechh/status/1779216422503387518), I briefly introduced [Mina Protocol.](https://twitter.com/MinaProtocol)

The lightweight blockchain with its focus on scalability, privacy and the community.

Today I would like to talk about why Mina is the platform for developers to build dApps on, and why this matters for the users and the community.

We know that Mina's blockchain is only a staggering 22KB. Which is approximately a post on X. Now why is this such a feat and why does this matter to developers?

Let's find out ;)!

### Small chain, big dreams.


![Small chain, big dreams, x post.](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8v71edl3rad7ievn5ew6.png)

A lighter blockchain such as Mina Protocol, requires fewer resources to operate and participate in the network. This means devs and users don't need powerful hardware (read: expensive gaming PCs / high-end smartphones) or massive storage to interact and build on the blockchain.

Lower resource requirements make it easier for developers to set up and maintain nodes, reducing operational costs and technical know-how.

Besides "entry requirements" (this starts to read like a gaming blog "how to run Crysis") smaller blockchains sync faster than bigger ones. Developers can set up new nodes or join the network more quickly, making the development and deployment process faster.

Additionally, transaction validation times are shorter, enabling DApps to provide near-real-time feedback to users. This speed and responsiveness make the user (and developer) experience better, making DApps feel like normal apps, and more competitive with their centralized competitors.

### Why scalability matters.

We talked about Mina and scalability, but why is that important?  
Lighter blockchains are more scalable because they don't burden nodes with the storage and processing which is associated with a growing transaction history. As Mina's blockchain is a constant-sized one, it stays at 22KB, which means developers can use this to their advantage.

As a result, building DApps can scale to user growth and the volume of transactions.

This might seem trivial/normal since we are used to how Web2 apps work, but in the world of Web3 and user growth, this is crucial.

### Less costs.

Another aspect of having a lighter blockchain is maintaining and operating a node on a lighter blockchain typically means lower costs compared to heavier blockchains.

With reduced resource requirements and faster syncing times, developers can save on costs and make use of their resources more efficiently. Lower costs also make it easier for developers to bootstrap their projects, potentially attract investors, and maintain their DApps over the longer term, which means more users, more growth, and more reach.

This means more dApps are used and built over time, which provides users with more choice, and a bigger "app" market. Essentially: a win for developers, a win for users, and a win for Web3!

### For the community.

Finally, Mina is not only developer-friendly, but also user-friendly. Because a lighter blockchain means (the apps) it is more accessible to a wider range of users, whether those with limited hardware capabilities or those with limited internet connectivity/data. This means more happy users and happy developers :).

This all comes together when developers can target and reach demographics without worrying about the technical or internet constraints of their users. So like we mentioned, more reach, more impact, more happiness!

### Mina and big dreams!

In summary, a lighter blockchain makes developing and scaling easier, reduces costs for developing and maintaining, and improves accessibility for both developers and users.

This all makes it easy for developers to create and maintain DApps, grow their user base, and keep an active community in the decentralized world of Web3.

Thanks to Mina Protocol, with its small chain, big dreams are achievable.

---

Thank you for reading! There is much more to Mina Protocol, so please join the community and make friends on Mina's [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/minaprotocol).

Build on Mina with their extensive [documentation](https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=mina+documentation&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8), and share your work with the community on Discord and X.

Happy building!