Rise is building a blockchain development platform with dPoS consensus. Their protocol uses a Delegated Proof-of-Stake (dPoS) consensus mechanism and will be powered by the RISE coin. They hope to significantly improve transaction times and reduce fees, while providing developers with a tool set to create DApps in several programming languages.

Aeternity is a smart contract driven blockchain platform that aims to integrate real world data and improve the overall performance of smart contracts. Aeternity has a hybrid consensus algorithm that combines PoW for verifying transactions, and PoS for governance purposes. The platform is based on a system of state channels that allow users to interact privately with each other and record this information off-chain.

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.