Hyperledger Fabric vs MultiChain: What are the differences?

Hyperledger Fabric vs MultiChain

Hyperledger Fabric and MultiChain are two popular blockchain frameworks that offer different features and capabilities. Here are the key differences:

1. Consensus Mechanism: Hyperledger Fabric supports multiple consensus mechanisms such as Kafka, Raft, and Solo, allowing participants to agree on the ordering and validity of transactions. On the other hand, MultiChain uses a simpler consensus algorithm based on mining, similar to Bitcoin.

2. Permissioned vs Permissionless: Hyperledger Fabric is a permissioned blockchain framework, which means that participants need to be authenticated and granted access to the network. MultiChain, on the other hand, can be used for both permissioned and permissionless blockchains, giving users more flexibility in choosing their network setup.

3. Smart Contract Language: Hyperledger Fabric uses a more flexible and widely-used smart contract language called Chaincode, which can be written in programming languages like Go, Java, and JavaScript. MultiChain, on the other hand, uses a simpler native smart contract language that is less versatile but easier to use.

4. Interoperability: Hyperledger Fabric is designed to be highly interoperable with other systems and supports integration with various databases and external systems. MultiChain, while also providing basic interoperability features, may be less extensive in terms of integration options.

5. Private Data: Hyperledger Fabric offers a robust private data feature, allowing certain data to be kept private and only shared with authorized participants. MultiChain also supports some form of confidentiality through encryption, but it may not have the same level of granularity and control as Hyperledger Fabric.

6. Governance Model: Hyperledger Fabric has a more formalized governance model with a set of defined roles, permissions, and policies that govern the network. MultiChain, on the other hand, provides a more flexible approach to governance, allowing users to define their own rules and consensus mechanisms.

In summary, Hyperledger Fabric offers more flexibility in consensus mechanisms, supports a wider range of smart contract languages, and provides stronger privacy and governance features compared to MultiChain. MultiChain, on the other hand, offers the option for both permissioned and permissionless blockchains, simpler integration, and a more customizable governance model.