https://journals.econsciences.com/index.php/JSEED <p data-sourcepos="7:1-7:477">^{JSEED (3062-3715) is a peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal dedicated to advancing the understanding of the complex interactions between sustainable energy systems and environmental development. This journal provides a platform for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to disseminate cutting-edge research, critical analyses, and innovative solutions that contribute to building a sustainable and resilient future. The "Journal of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Development" is aimed at a broad audience of academics, policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders interested in the intersection of sustainable energy and environmental development. The journal provides a valuable resource for researchers seeking to publish their work, policymakers seeking evidence-based guidance, and practitioners seeking innovative solutions to real-world challenges. <strong>Continuous Publication Model:</strong> Econsciences Journals is published under the continuous publication model.}</p> EconSciences Library en-US Journal of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Development 3062-3715 https://journals.econsciences.com/index.php/JSEED/article/view/2724 <p>Framed by Zeno’s paradox, this paper examines the blockchain trilemma the mutually constraining goals of scalability, decentralization, and security through comparative analyses of Bitcoin and Ethereum. We synthesize literature on sharding, sidechains, and state channels, operationalize technical, performance, and security variables, and propose two generalized models: a scaling-efficiency model linking throughput, confirmation time, block size, and sharding; and a decentralization–security trade-off model combining attack cost, resilience, and decentralization degree. Using illustrative parameterizations, Ethereum with sharding attains higher efficiency, whereas Bitcoin exhibits a stronger decentralization–security balance. Qualitative assessments highlight practical frictions in cross-shard communication, liquidity and routing in channels, and sidechain security externalities. We discuss mediating roles of latency and consensus, limitations of simplified metrics, and directions for multi-criteria optimization and empirical calibration. Findings clarify design trade-offs and inform pathway selection across layered architectures.</p> <p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Blockchain trilemma; Scalability; Decentralization; Security; Sharding; Sidechains; State channels</p> <p><strong>JEL:</strong>&nbsp; H11; H83; D73.</p> Jia-Ying LYU Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Development 2026-03-15 2026-03-15 2 1 2724 10.65810/jseed.2724