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View ChartZilliqa is a pioneering high-throughput blockchain platform designed to scale securely through sharding, making it one of the first public blockchains to successfully implement this technology. It was built to solve the scalability trilemma by processing transactions in parallel.
Zilliqa is a high-performance blockchain that pioneered the practical implementation of sharding to achieve scalability. It originally used a hybrid consensus of Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) but has transitioned to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) model with its Zilliqa 2.0 upgrade. The native ZIL token is used for paying transaction fees, staking for network security, and participating in governance. Zilliqa supports smart contracts and is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), broadening its developer appeal. The ecosystem focuses on decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and digital collectibles (NFTs).
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name (Ticker) | Zilliqa (ZIL) |
| Alternative Names | - |
| Consensus Mechanism | Transitioned from PoW + PBFT to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) with Zilliqa 2.0 |
| Smart Contracts | Native support, EVM-compatible |
| Category | Layer 1 Blockchain, Scalability Solution |
| Hash Algorithm | Ethash (for legacy PoW) |
| Block Reward | Dynamic, based on network staking and fee mechanisms |
| Max Supply | 21,000,000,000 ZIL |
| TPS | 2,828+ (theoretical) |
| Scaling Solution | Native Network Sharding |
| Blockchain | Zilliqa Mainnet |
Zilliqa was founded by a team of academics and entrepreneurs. The project's origins trace back to research at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Key figures include Prateek Saxena, an Associate Professor at NUS who co-authored the initial research paper on sharding that inspired Zilliqa; Amrit Kumar, who served as the President and Chief Scientific Officer and contributed significantly to the platform's technical design; Max Kantelia, a co-founder who provided entrepreneurial leadership and vision for the project's commercial adoption; and Juzar Motiwalla, another co-founder involved in the early strategy and development. The project is now developed and maintained by Zilliqa Research, a dedicated entity driving the protocol's evolution, most notably with the launch of Zilliqa 2.0.
Zilliqa's core innovation is its use of sharding to achieve linear scaling. The network is divided into smaller groups of nodes called shards, and each shard can process transactions concurrently, dramatically increasing the total throughput as more nodes join the network. Originally, Zilliqa used a two-phase process where Proof-of-Work (PoW) was used only for node identity establishment (sybil resistance) and shard formation, not for consensus on every transaction. Transaction consensus within each shard was achieved using a Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) protocol, which is fast and energy-efficient. With the Zilliqa 2.0 upgrade, the network has transitioned to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) model where validators stake ZIL tokens to participate in securing the network and validating transactions, making the platform more energy-efficient and allowing for greater participation in governance. Additionally, with Zilliqa 2.0, the platform offers full Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, allowing developers to easily port their Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts to Zilliqa, leveraging its high throughput.
Zilliqa's value proposition is centered on its early and practical approach to blockchain scalability. It was one of the first major blockchains to launch with a working sharded architecture, providing a real-world blueprint for scaling Layer 1 networks. Its design enables high transaction throughput, theoretically capable of processing thousands of transactions per second, addressing a key pain point for mainstream dApp adoption. Its evolution from a unique hybrid model to a modern PoS system demonstrates technical adaptability, improving sustainability and stakeholder alignment. EVM compatibility lowers the barrier to entry for developers, allowing them to build scalable applications without learning a new programming language.
The ZIL token is the lifeblood of the Zilliqa ecosystem, with several key utilities. ZIL is used to pay for transaction and smart contract execution fees (gas) on the network. In the PoS system, users can stake ZIL to help secure the network and earn staking rewards paid in ZIL. Stakers can participate in the governance of the Zilliqa protocol, voting on key proposals and upgrades. Within the Zilliqa ecosystem, ZIL serves as a primary currency for trading NFTs, in-game assets, and other digital goods.
The Zilliqa ecosystem is growing, focusing on areas that benefit from high throughput and low fees. Several decentralized exchanges (DEXs), lending protocols, and yield farming platforms are built on Zilliqa, leveraging its scalability for efficient trading. Zilliqa has attracted game developers due to its ability to handle many micro-transactions, with projects ranging from play-to-earn games to metaverse platforms. The network hosts various NFT marketplaces and projects, with a focus on gaming assets, digital art, and collectibles. The platform is also exploring enterprise use cases, including supply chain tracking and digital advertising, through partnerships and its scalable infrastructure.
Zilliqa no longer supports mining in the traditional Proof-of-Work sense. The network has fully transitioned to a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism with Zilliqa 2.0. The primary way to earn new ZIL tokens is now through staking. Users can delegate their ZIL tokens to a validator or run their own validator node to participate in block validation and earn staking rewards. This process requires holding and locking up ZIL tokens in a staking contract, contributing to network security instead of computational work.
Securing your ZIL tokens is crucial. For long-term storage of significant amounts, use a reputable hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor, as these devices keep your private keys offline. For smaller, more active amounts, consider a non-custodial software wallet that supports ZIL, such as the official Zilliqa Wallet or Trust Wallet. Always download wallets from official sources. Never share your private keys or 12/24-word recovery seed phrase with anyone, as this phrase is the only way to restore your wallet. Be cautious of fake websites, emails, or social media messages pretending to be from Zilliqa or related services, and always double-check URLs. If holding ZIL on an exchange like BTCC, enable all available security features, including two-factor authentication (2FA) and withdrawal whitelisting.
ZIL is a popular cryptocurrency listed on many exchanges. However, it is recommended to trade on a major platform like BTCC exchange for higher liquidity and better customer support. To get started, register a BTCC account by signing up with your email or mobile number and completing the KYC verification to unlock more features and benefits of the platform. Then, deposit funds by depositing fiat currency (via bank transfer, card, or third-party payment) or transferring USDT from an external wallet into your BTCC account. After that, go to the trading page and search for the spot trading pair ZIL/USDT or the perpetual contract ZILUSDT. Enter the amount of ZIL you wish to purchase and submit the order. For contract trading, you can also choose to go short (sell) and adjust the leverage multiplier according to your strategy and risk tolerance. Finally, confirm your purchase by checking your personal account to see if the coins have arrived for spot purchases, or check the trading page to see if your order was filled successfully for contract trades.
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While Zilliqa, NEAR Protocol, and MultiversX (EGLD) all utilize sharding to solve the blockchain scalability trilemma, their architectures and core focuses differ significantly.
| Feature | Zilliqa (ZIL) | NEAR Protocol (NEAR) | MultiversX (EGLD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharding Architecture | Network & Transaction Sharding (X-Shards in 2.0) | Nightshade Dynamic State Sharding | Adaptive State Sharding |
| Smart Contract Language | Scilla & Solidity (EVM) | Rust, AssemblyScript | Rust, C, C++ |
| Consensus Mechanism | PoS (Zilliqa 2.0) | Doomslug (PoS) | Secure Proof of Stake |
| Core Advantage | First-mover in sharding, high security with Scilla | Developer-friendly, Rainbow Bridge interoperability | Ultra-high TPS, powerful WASM execution engine |
In summary, ZIL is ideal for security-critical DeFi and gaming, NEAR excels in developer and user onboarding, while EGLD focuses on enterprise-grade throughput.
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