This article dives into the competitive world of blockchain's "blockspace"—the limited capacity for transactions and data on a blockchain. It frames this market as a kind of Darwinian arena where different use cases (like DeFi, NFTs, or simple payments) battle for priority, with fees and efficiency determining which survive and thrive. Think of it like a high-stakes game of musical chairs, where only the most valuable or optimized transactions get a seat.

Editor’s Note: Blockspace isn’t infinite, and what gets included in a block (and what gets left out) shapes the entire ecosystem. This isn’t just tech jargon—it affects everything from how much you pay for a Bitcoin transaction to whether new apps can even function. Understanding this battle helps explain why some crypto projects flourish while others fizzle, and why fees spike when networks get crowded. It’s capitalism, but for bytes on a ledger.