Namecoin is a blockchain-based DNS that allows users to register domain names with a ".bit" domain. Namecoin was the first fork of the Bitcoin protocol and it aims to remove centralized control over domain registration. It was the first cryptocurrency to use Auxiliary Proof of Work (AuxPoW) as a consensus mechanism,
where a child blockchain is dependent on the Proof-of-Work consensus of the parent blockchain. This allows for Namecoin and Bitcoin to be mined simultaneously, and when a new block is created on Bitcoin, it will also be added to the Namecoin blockchain.
Namecoin is a very important project that represents one of the best use cases of blockchain technology in protecting free speech and resisting censorship on the internet. It is powered by the NMC coin. The decentralized DNS provides more security from hackers and government intervention.

High Performance Blockchain (HPB) is a Chinese company that is developing an improved blockchain infrastructure. Their goal is to dramatically improve the speed of transactions and throughput of existing blockchain systems. HPB has been called the EOS of China.
Similar to EOS, HPB uses a delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) consensus algorithm that will enable parallel processing. It will also aid in improving the performance of their blockchain, and they hope that it will enable the creation of an ecosystem for the creation of decentralized applications.
HPB's platform is based on hardware accelerator chip drivers. The accelerator chips can be customized and will aid in the performance of the blockchain. HPB has the ambitious goal of enabling 1 million transactions per second.
The company's founders are well connected in the blockchain and payment sector in China. NEO is one of the chief investors in the company, and they also works with Union Pay; which is an influential payment network that connects banks in China.

ChainLink is developing the LINK Network, which will enable connected smart contracts. LINK will provide smart contracts with a variety of external data and access to APIs. ChainLink's goal is to solve the connectivity problem that plagues smart contract based systems, and discourages mass adoption. Many decentralized applications are unable to connect with important external data sources due to limitations involving their consensus protocols. The LINK network wants to connect their smart contracts with external systems and APIs by using secure middleware.