Quiz: The Toll Collector Problem 4 questions · 80% to pass 1. IBM Food Trust and TradeLens failed because:Blockchain technology is not ready for enterprise useThey replaced paper intermediaries with IBM as the intermediaryFood supply chains are too complex for trackingWalmart withdrew from the partnershipIBM controlled the validators, charged subscription fees, and required proprietary infrastructure. The toll collector changed from paper-based to IBM-based, but the economic structure was identical.2. The core difference between a general-purpose execution network and a purpose-built enterprise ledger is:Speed of transactionsWhether one entity controls access and validationProgramming language usedNumber of nodes in the networkA general-purpose network is permissionless with distributed validators. An enterprise ledger is permissioned with a single operator controlling who participates and who validates. The operator IS the intermediary.3. A cross-border XRPL payment costs approximately $0.0002. A traditional wire transfer costs $25-50. The $24.99+ difference represents:Superior security provided by the bankRegulatory compliance costsThe toll charged by intermediaries for a function the protocol handles nativelyInsurance against transaction failureThe actual cost of moving value across a network is fractions of a cent. The spread between protocol cost and wire transfer cost is the intermediary's toll for a function blockchain performs at the infrastructure level.4. When evaluating a blockchain project, the most important question is:How many transactions per second can it handle?Which celebrity endorses it?Does it remove the intermediary or rebrand the intermediary?Is it built on Ethereum or a competing chain?The defining test is whether the project eliminates the toll collector or just moves the tollbooth. If one entity controls validators, gates access, and maintains legacy pricing, it is an intermediary with blockchain branding. Check answers Retake quiz Back to lesson Next lesson →