If you're exploring how Sui compares to traditional blockchains, you’ll quickly notice that its design focuses on solving performance and scalability issues that older systems struggle with. Most blockchains, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, use an account-based model where transactions are processed one after another. This sequential processing creates bottlenecks, especially when many users interact with the network at the same time. Sui takes a different approach by using an object-based model, which allows it to process multiple transactions in parallel as long as they don’t touch the same object. This means you can build apps that respond faster and scale more easily.

You also benefit from Sui’s unique consensus mechanism. Instead of applying consensus to every transaction, Sui only uses it when necessary—specifically for shared objects. For simple transfers or updates to owned objects, the network can finalize transactions instantly. This hybrid model gives you both speed and security, which is ideal if you're building real-time applications like games, marketplaces, or social platforms.

Another key difference is how Sui handles smart contracts. While Ethereum uses Solidity, Sui relies on Move, a language designed for secure asset management. Move treats assets as resources that can’t be copied or lost, which helps prevent common bugs and exploits. You’ll find that Move’s strict rules make your code safer and easier to audit, especially when dealing with financial or ownership logic.

Sui also improves the user experience by offering predictable gas fees. Instead of fluctuating wildly during high traffic, fees are managed through a market-based system where users bid for execution. This gives you more control over costs and helps your app stay affordable for users.

If you're coming from another blockchain ecosystem, you’ll need to adjust to Sui’s object-centric mindset. Instead of thinking in terms of accounts and balances, you’ll work with objects that have unique IDs, owners, and states. This model is more flexible and lets you build complex systems with fine-grained control over behavior and access.