The Polkadot protocol introduces elastic scaling, providing higher throughput for parachains.

Polkadot is committed to building a platform that emphasizes excellent scalability and security, aiming to create the best operating environment for decentralized applications. It achieves scalability through a layered architecture, with the relay chain as the central chain providing shared security for all parachains, supporting up to 300 parachains. Each parachain can submit a block for each block of the relay chain.

This layered structure allows parachain projects to integrate resources and gain strong security support, virtually eliminating attack threats. In contrast, if each parachain operates its security measures on independent blockchains, security resources will be dispersed, making the cost of attacks lower and easier to implement.

Elastic scaling is an important innovation proposed by Polkadot, opening up new possibilities for more application scenarios within the ecosystem. It allows parachains to generate and validate multiple blocks for each relay chain block. Although these parachain blocks are still constructed in order, the relay chain can process them in parallel.

Polkadot introduces the concept of "core", similar to the previous "slots". A core represents the resources and time used to validate parachain blocks on the relay chain. For example, if the relay chain can validate 50 parachain blocks simultaneously, it is said to have 50 cores. This allows high-throughput parachains to execute transactions more quickly.

The newly launched Agile Coretime model has changed the original slot allocation method. "Coretime" refers to the use of a core right on the relay chain. The new mechanism allows for more flexible time periods to be obtained through on-chain purchases or the secondary market, such as a month, an hour, or even a block's core usage rights.

Elastic scaling combined with Agile Coretime allows parachains to rent additional core time in a short period, accelerating block verification speed and thereby handling more transactions. This benefits various entities within the blockchain ecosystem. Service providers can serve more clients, increasing revenue and expanding influence. For applications with unpredictable core time demands, elastic scaling enables them to purchase the necessary core time at specific times without having to trade off between high costs and low performance.

For emerging applications, elastic scaling allows them to flexibly purchase core time based on user growth. This addresses the challenge of estimating future demand for projects, avoiding the pitfalls of over-purchasing or slow service speeds.

Elastic scalability also improves cost-effectiveness. It allows applications to only pay for core time when needed, reducing costs for all parties and lowering the entry barrier for developers. A secondary market that may be introduced in the future will enable projects to resell excess core time.

Compared to other scaling models, such as Layer-2 solutions on Ethereum, Polkadot's elastic scaling avoids issues of reduced security or excessive computational burden. This is because in Polkadot, block execution still takes place within the set of validators, rather than being delegated to external entities.

Polkadot also plans to launch a more comprehensive CoreJAM model that integrates the advantages of Agile Coretime and elastic scalability. In addition, the CorePlay concept proposes allowing the same smart contract to schedule with different contracts under specific circumstances, further enhancing interoperability.

In the coming months and even years, Polkadot is committed to maximizing scalability and security within its interconnected network, driving a new wave of adoption for Web3 and preparing adequately for the upcoming attention surge.