DEV.COOKING LEARN
Understand the chain.
Understand the trade-offs.
Start with the foundations, then read the news with better questions. Full original lessons, primary references and practical examples.
Start the learning path →MEME COIN FUNDAMENTALS
Understand the token behind the meme.
What changes between chains?
A network name does not tell you everything. Compare the execution model, the native fee asset, the network holding your balance and the dependencies behind each action. Familiar tools can work across networks while assets and security assumptions remain separate.
We avoid permanent speed and dollar-fee rankings. Those depend on the operation and current conditions. The full chain comparison explains how to evaluate the differences that matter to your task.
One action. Four questions.
- Which network is selected?
- Which exact asset is involved?
- What authority am I granting?
- What evidence shows completion?
Chain comparison at a glance
Technical orientation, not a safety score or recommendation. Checked October 5, 2026; read the lesson's primary references.
| Network | Execution | Native fees | What to investigate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum | EVM | ETH | Contract permissions and the actual action |
| Solana | Programs and instructions | SOL | Account ownership and separate token authorities |
| Base | EVM | ETH on Base | Network identity and the transfer/exit route |
| BNB Smart Chain | EVM-compatible | BNB | Correct contract, network and fee balance |
Your learning path
All guides →Read in order or choose the question you need to answer. Each lesson opens in full on Dev.Cooking.
Chain differences
Compare Ethereum, Solana, Base and BNB Smart Chain.
Layer 1, Layer 2 & sidechains
Follow execution, settlement and security boundaries.
Fees & transaction costs
Learn the units, then count the entire route.
Bridges & cross-chain assets
Identify the asset, dependencies and completion evidence.
Accounts & permissions
Understand what each authority actually controls.
Smart wallets & delegation
Follow who can act and what authority is delegated.
Modular blockchains
Separate execution, settlement and data availability.
Liquidity & market cap
Distinguish a valuation calculation from an executable trade.
A working vocabulary
Execution
Applying a system's rules to an action and calculating its result. The execution model affects how developers write applications and users interpret permissions.
Settlement
How results are established in an underlying system. Identify the mechanism and dependencies rather than assuming every confirmation display means the same thing.
Native fee asset
The asset used to pay network processing costs. It is separate from the token you may intend to transfer; balances must be checked on the selected network.
Bridge
A mechanism connecting activity or assets between networks. Source and destination progress, received asset identity and verification dependencies need separate checks.
Permission or authority
A defined power to act, such as spending, minting or upgrading. Read which action a particular role can perform rather than interpreting one field as a complete safety verdict.
Liquidity
The capacity and conditions for trading an asset. A displayed valuation is not a promise that a trade of your intended size will execute at that price.