# Part 1 - The Blockchain Trilemma

By [Cliff](https://paragraph.com/@cliffton) · 2022-04-16

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The infamous [**Blockchain Trilemma**](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/blockchain-trilemma-decentralization-scalability-definition) dictates that you can only optimize for two of the three properties of a blockchain. One must be sacrificed due to technical limitations. Those three properties of a blockchain are:

*   **Decentralization**
    
*   **Security**
    
*   **Scalability**
    

This first part of my ‘**The Bull Case for ETH**’ series is focused on explaining what the blockchain trilemma is, what each property means, and why the current Layer 1 blockchains cannot achieve all 3.

Click here for [**Part 2 - Modularized Ethereum**](https://mirror.xyz/cliffton.eth/fdvhwjFnAwGpj2GBCOsVdZS56-AogqxoMiFuPGP_JX0)**.**

DM me on Twitter at [cliffton.eth](https://twitter.com/ClifftonLee1) or on Discord (cliffton.eth #2641) for the full PDF version, or for feedback in general! [**Click here to go back to my main page**](https://mirror.xyz/cliffton.eth/aazzWUKcbr2bl2YJy9gzfjNhyciYcEbbIvG_wtw2QI8) where I’ve got more visual guides for you.

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*Originally published on [Cliff](https://paragraph.com/@cliffton/part-1-the-blockchain-trilemma)*