Last Updated: March 2026
Zilliqa was the first public blockchain to implement sharding — splitting the network into parallel processing groups to increase throughput. While newer chains have caught up, Zilliqa pioneered this fundamental scaling approach.
History
Founded by Xinshu Dong, Yaoqi Jia, Amrit Kumar, and Prateek Saxena (National University of Singapore researchers). Launched mainnet in 2019. Based in Singapore with strong academic roots. Zilliqa 2.0 introduces EVM compatibility and improved performance. See Singapore crypto.
Technology
Zilliqa uses network sharding — dividing nodes into smaller groups (shards) that process transactions in parallel. More nodes = more shards = more throughput. Smart contracts use Scilla — a language designed to be formally verifiable for safety. See blockchain guide.
Tokenomics
ZIL: 21B max supply. Staking: ~10-12% APY. See tokenomics and staking guide.
Pros and Cons
- Pro: Pioneered sharding — genuine technical innovation
- Pro: Strong academic foundation (NUS researchers)
- Pro: Zilliqa 2.0 adds EVM compatibility
- Con: First-mover advantage eroded by faster competitors
- Con: Small DeFi and dApp ecosystem
- Con: Scilla language limits developer adoption (2.0 addresses this)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zilliqa safe?
Zilliqa inherits security from its consensus mechanism. Smart contract risks exist on individual dApps, not the chain itself.
How do I use Zilliqa?
Add Zilliqa to your wallet (MetaMask for EVM chains), bridge or withdraw assets from an exchange, and interact with dApps.
Is Zilliqa a good investment?
Evaluate based on ecosystem growth, developer activity, and competitive positioning vs other chains. See our altcoin guide.
