Comparison: MiniLedger vs Enterprise Blockchains

MiniLedger is designed to be the simplest possible private blockchain that still delivers the guarantees enterprises need. This page compares MiniLedger with three major enterprise blockchain platforms: Hyperledger Fabric, R3 Corda, and Quorum (ConsenSys).

At a Glance

	MiniLedger	Hyperledger Fabric	R3 Corda	Quorum
First block	< 1 minute	Hours to days	Hours to days	30-60 minutes
Language	JavaScript/TypeScript	Go, Java	Kotlin, Java	Solidity
Runtime	Node.js	Docker + JVM	JVM	Go + JVM
Dependencies	0 external services	Docker, CouchDB/LevelDB, CA server, orderer	Notary, Oracle DB/PostgreSQL, network map	Ethereum node, Tessera/Constellation
Config files	1 JSON (optional)	10+ YAML/JSON files	5+ config files	5+ TOML/JSON files
Lines to first tx	~5	~200+	~100+	~50+
Storage	SQLite	LevelDB or CouchDB	SQL database	LevelDB
SQL queries	Native	CouchDB only (Mango)	SQL via vault	Not built-in

Detailed Comparison

Setup Time and Developer Experience

MiniLedger

npm install miniledger
npx miniledger start
# Node running with API at http://localhost:3000

That is it. No Docker. No JVM. No configuration files. No certificate authority. One command gets you a running blockchain node with a REST API.

Hyperledger Fabric

Setting up Fabric requires:

1. Install Docker and Docker Compose
2. Download Fabric binaries and images (curl -sSL https://bit.ly/2ysbOFE | bash -s)
3. Generate crypto material with cryptogen
4. Write channel configuration (configtx.yaml)
5. Create a genesis block
6. Write connection profiles
7. Configure and deploy chaincode
8. Set up and enroll identities with the Fabric CA

The minimum viable network requires 4-6 Docker containers (peer, orderer, CA, CouchDB) and 10+ configuration files.

R3 Corda

Setting up Corda requires:

1. Install JDK 8+
2. Install Gradle
3. Set up a notary node
4. Configure the network map
5. Write CorDapps in Kotlin or Java
6. Deploy CorDapps to nodes
7. Set up an Oracle database or PostgreSQL for the vault

Quorum

Setting up Quorum requires:

1. Install Go-Ethereum (Quorum fork)
2. Install Tessera or Constellation (privacy manager)
3. Generate node keys and genesis block
4. Configure static-nodes.json and permissioned-nodes.json
5. Write Solidity smart contracts
6. Deploy contracts via web3

Dependencies

Dependency	MiniLedger	Hyperledger Fabric	R3 Corda	Quorum
Runtime	Node.js	Docker + Go + JVM	JVM (8+)	Go + JVM
Database	SQLite (embedded)	CouchDB or LevelDB	PostgreSQL/Oracle/H2	LevelDB
Container platform	Not needed	Docker (required)	Not needed	Not needed
Certificate authority	Not needed	Fabric CA (required)	Doorman/Network Map	Not needed
Privacy manager	Not needed	Private data collections	Notary service	Tessera/Constellation
Message broker	Not needed	Kafka/Raft orderer	Artemis MQ	Not needed
Native compilation	None	Go binaries	Not needed	Go binaries

MiniLedger's total external dependency count: 0. Everything is bundled as npm packages with pure JavaScript implementations (including the Ed25519 cryptography).

Consensus

Aspect	MiniLedger	Hyperledger Fabric	R3 Corda	Quorum
Algorithm	Raft (or solo)	Raft (orderer)	Pluggable notary	IBFT, QBFT, Raft
Block finality	Immediate (1 round)	Immediate	Transaction-level	Immediate
Byzantine tolerance	No (CFT)	No (Raft CFT)	Depends on notary	Yes (IBFT)
Leader election	Automatic	Orderer managed	Notary cluster	Validator voting
Min nodes for consensus	1 (solo) or 3 (raft)	1 orderer + 1 peer	1 notary	4 (IBFT)
Block proposals	Raft log entries = blocks	Orderer batches txs	No global blocks	Ethereum-style blocks

MiniLedger's Raft implementation is a crash-fault-tolerant (CFT) consensus suitable for consortium networks where all participants are known and partially trusted. For networks requiring Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT), Quorum's IBFT is more appropriate.

Smart Contracts

Aspect	MiniLedger	Hyperledger Fabric	R3 Corda	Quorum
Language	JavaScript	Go, Java, Node.js	Kotlin, Java	Solidity
Deployment	REST API call	CLI + peer approve	Gradle build + deploy	Web3 deploy
Execution model	Synchronous, in-process	Docker container	JVM sandbox	EVM
State model	Key-value (SQLite)	Key-value (world state)	UTXO-like (vault)	Account-based (EVM)
State queries	Full SQL	CouchDB Mango queries	JPA/SQL via vault	Not built-in
Context API	ctx.get/set/del/log	Stub API	Vault API	Solidity storage
Max execution time	5 seconds (configurable)	30 seconds default	No hard limit	Gas limit

MiniLedger contracts are plain JavaScript functions -- no special language, no compilation step, no Docker containers. The ContractContext provides get(), set(), del(), sender, blockHeight, timestamp, and log().

// MiniLedger contract
return {
  transfer(ctx, to, amount) {
    const balance = ctx.get("balance:" + ctx.sender) || 0;
    if (balance < amount) throw new Error("Insufficient");
    ctx.set("balance:" + ctx.sender, balance - amount);
    ctx.set("balance:" + to, (ctx.get("balance:" + to) || 0) + amount);
  }
}

// Hyperledger Fabric chaincode (Go)
func (s *SmartContract) Transfer(ctx contractapi.TransactionContextInterface,
    to string, amount int) error {
    balance, err := ctx.GetStub().GetState("balance:" + ctx.GetClientIdentity().GetID())
    // ... 30+ lines of error handling and marshaling
}

State Queries

Capability	MiniLedger	Hyperledger Fabric	R3 Corda	Quorum
Key-value read	GET /api/state/:key	GetState(key)	queryBy(criteria)	eth_call
Key-value write	Transaction payload	PutState(key, val)	Transaction output	eth_sendTransaction
Range queries	SQL BETWEEN	GetStateByRange	JPA queries	Not built-in
Rich queries	Full SQL	CouchDB Mango (JSON)	JPA/SQL	Not built-in
Aggregations	SUM, COUNT, AVG	Not built-in	SQL aggregations	Not built-in
Joins	SQL JOIN	Not possible	JPA joins	Not possible
Ad-hoc queries	POST /api/query	Mango selector	Custom vault queries	Not possible

MiniLedger's SQL query capability is a significant differentiator. Because all state lives in SQLite, you can run any read-only SELECT query including joins, aggregations, window functions, and subqueries.

Privacy

Aspect	MiniLedger	Hyperledger Fabric	R3 Corda	Quorum
Default model	All nodes see all data	Channel-based isolation	Need-to-know (per-tx)	Public + private txs
Private data	ACL-based, encryption	Private data collections	Native (only parties see tx)	Tessera private txs
Channels/subnets	Planned	Yes (channels)	Native (point-to-point)	Not built-in
Encryption	ChaCha20-Poly1305	TLS	TLS + payload encryption	TLS + Tessera
Key exchange	X25519	PKI certificates	PKI certificates	Node keys

Corda has the strongest privacy model by default -- transactions are only shared with involved parties. Fabric uses channels for data isolation. MiniLedger provides ACL-based privacy with encryption at the state level.

Governance

Aspect	MiniLedger	Hyperledger Fabric	R3 Corda	Quorum
On-chain governance	Built-in proposals + voting	Not built-in	Not built-in	Not built-in
Network membership	Config-based	MSP + CA	Network Map	Permissioning contract
Policy changes	Governance proposals	Channel config update	Network parameter update	Voting contract
Roles	admin, member, observer	Admin, peer, client, orderer	Node, notary	Validator, member

MiniLedger is the only platform with built-in on-chain governance. Proposals can be created, voted on, and executed directly through the ledger's transaction system.

Dashboard and Monitoring

Aspect	MiniLedger	Hyperledger Fabric	R3 Corda	Quorum
Built-in explorer	Yes (block explorer dashboard)	No (Hyperledger Explorer is separate)	No (requires separate tool)	No (requires BlockScout)
REST API	Built-in (Hono)	Requires SDK or REST adapter	Requires CRaSH shell or HTTP bridge	JSON-RPC only
Health endpoint	Built-in	Not standard	Not standard	Not standard
Peer visibility	Built-in API	Operations console (paid)	Network Map	admin_peers RPC

Embeddability

Aspect	MiniLedger	Hyperledger Fabric	R3 Corda	Quorum
Use as library	import { MiniLedgerNode }	Not possible	Not practical	Not possible
Embed in app	Yes, single process	No (requires Docker containers)	No (requires JVM)	No (requires Go binary)
Programmatic control	Full API (init, start, stop, submit, query)	SDK only	CorDapp API	Web3 provider
Testing	In-process, no containers	Requires Docker test network	Requires mock network	Requires test node

This is perhaps MiniLedger's most unique capability. You can import the node as a library, create an instance, and embed a full blockchain inside your application:

import { MiniLedgerNode } from "miniledger";

const node = await MiniLedgerNode.create({ dataDir: "./my-data" });
await node.init();
await node.start();

await node.submit({ key: "hello", value: "world" });
const state = await node.getState("hello");

No other enterprise blockchain platform supports this level of embeddability.

When to Choose What

Choose MiniLedger When

• You need a blockchain running in minutes, not days
• You want zero external dependencies (no Docker, no JVM, no database servers)
• You need SQL queries over blockchain state
• You want to embed a blockchain inside an existing Node.js application
• Your consortium has partial trust (crash-fault tolerance is sufficient)
• You need built-in governance and a block explorer
• Your team works primarily in JavaScript/TypeScript

Choose Hyperledger Fabric When

• You need channel-based data isolation between organizations
• Your consortium requires complex endorsement policies (e.g., "3 of 5 orgs must sign")
• You need a mature, battle-tested platform with large community support
• You have dedicated DevOps resources for Docker infrastructure
• You need chaincode written in Go or Java for performance-critical logic

Choose R3 Corda When

• Transaction-level privacy is a hard requirement (only involved parties see data)
• You are in financial services (Corda was designed for this sector)
• You need UTXO-style state management for double-spend prevention
• Your organization already uses Kotlin/Java and the JVM ecosystem
• You need regulatory compliance features specific to financial services

Choose Quorum When

• You need Byzantine fault tolerance (IBFT consensus)
• Your team has Solidity/Ethereum expertise
• You want Ethereum compatibility (ERC-20 tokens, existing Solidity tooling)
• You need private transactions alongside public transactions
• You are building a permissioned version of an Ethereum-based application

Migration Path

MiniLedger is designed as a starting point. If your project outgrows MiniLedger's capabilities, the data model (key-value state, transaction logs, block history) maps cleanly to other platforms:

MiniLedger Concept	Fabric Equivalent	Corda Equivalent	Quorum Equivalent
State key-value	World state	Vault state	Contract storage
Transaction	Transaction	Transaction	Transaction
Block	Block	Not applicable	Block
Contract	Chaincode	CorDapp	Solidity contract
Raft consensus	Raft orderer	Notary cluster	Raft mode
REST API	SDK / REST adapter	RPC / HTTP bridge	JSON-RPC

Summary

MiniLedger occupies a unique position in the enterprise blockchain landscape: it prioritizes developer experience and operational simplicity without sacrificing the core guarantees that make blockchains valuable (immutability, cryptographic integrity, distributed consensus, auditability).

For teams that want to adopt blockchain technology without the steep learning curve and infrastructure overhead of traditional platforms, MiniLedger provides a practical, production-capable starting point that can be up and running in minutes.