Aleph Zero is a highly scalable, fast, and privacy-focused Layer-1 blockchain for developers and enterprises. It is built using the Substrate stack, an open-source technology kit developed by Parity Technologies that allows for the development of customizable blockchains.
The blockchain's architecture comprises two main components: a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism called AlephBFT and a Directed Auxiliary Graph (DAG) auxiliary structure. Aleph Zero's hybrid consensus protocol combines PoS and the intermediary data structure DAG, using the aBFT architecture in its consensus mechanism to deliver high security, decentralization, and low transaction fees.
The blockchain's unique features include high transaction throughput, scalability, and low transaction costs, which make it an ideal enterprise-grade blockchain that can support private transactions and smart contracts. The Aleph Zero Foundation is the organization responsible for the development and maintenance of the Aleph Zero blockchain.
AZERO is the Aleph Zero ecosystem’s base currency, with a total supply of 300 million coins and an annual inflation rate of 30 million. It is used for paying transaction fees, validator node staking, receiving discounts on fees for asset wrapping, and bridging on Liminal and DEX swap fees. It also functions as collateral for wrapping assets on Liminal and allows its holders to participate in the network’s decentralized governance mechanism.