Blockchain TPS claims vs. real-world performance: decentralization, ZK proofs and scaling limits

Blockchain transactions-per-second metrics are often touted as proof of scalability, yet Carter Feldman argues they rarely reflect how decentralized networks perform under real conditions. As more transactions hit a chain, each node faces heavier verification and bandwidth loads, pushing practical throughput far below lab benchmarks and forcing tradeoffs unless designs shift toward proof-based systems like zero-knowledge technology.