Last Updated: March 2026
NEO was dubbed the ‘Chinese Ethereum’ during the 2017 bull run. Founded in China as the first open-source blockchain project in the country, NEO targets smart economy applications — digital assets, digital identity, and smart contracts.
History
Founded by Da Hongfei and Erik Zhang in 2014 (originally Antshares, rebranded to NEO in 2017). NEO was one of the first smart contract platforms outside Ethereum. Its surge from $0.15 to $180 in 2017 made it one of the most famous altcoin rallies. NEO N3 (major upgrade) launched in 2021. See smart contract guide.
Key Features
- dBFT consensus: Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance — fast finality with guaranteed single-block confirmation
- Dual token: NEO (governance, indivisible) + GAS (utility, divisible)
- Multi-language: Smart contracts in C#, Python, Java, Go, TypeScript
- NeoFS: Decentralized storage. NeoID: Digital identity
Tokenomics
NEO: 100M total (indivisible — can only hold whole NEOs). GAS: Generated by holding NEO. Used for fees. See tokenomics.
Pros and Cons
- Pro: First Chinese open-source blockchain
- Pro: Multi-language smart contracts (unique)
- Pro: NEO generates GAS passively
- Con: Eclipsed by Ethereum, Solana, and newer chains
- Con: China’s crypto ban limited domestic growth
- Con: Small developer ecosystem
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Neo safe?
Neo inherits security from its consensus mechanism. Smart contract risks exist on individual dApps, not the chain itself.
How do I use Neo?
Add Neo to your wallet (MetaMask for EVM chains), bridge or withdraw assets from an exchange, and interact with dApps.
Is Neo a good investment?
Evaluate based on ecosystem growth, developer activity, and competitive positioning vs other chains. See our altcoin guide.
