Hedera (HBAR) is the native cryptocurrency of the Hedera Hashgraph, a decentralized, enterprise-grade public network launched in 2018. Unlike traditional blockchains, Hedera uses a unique distributed ledger technology (DLT) called Hashgraph, designed for high-speed transactions, low fees, and sustainability. Governed by a council of global organizations, including Google, IBM, and Boeing, Hedera powers decentralized applications (dApps), smart contracts, and services like tokenization and data integrity, targeting enterprise and Web3 adoption.

Key Features

  • Hashgraph Consensus: Utilizes a leaderless, asynchronous Byzantine Fault-Tolerant (aBFT) consensus for fast, secure transactions.
  • High Throughput: Processes thousands of transactions per second with fixed low fees ($0.0001 per transaction).
  • Sustainability: Carbon-negative network with minimal environmental impact due to no mining.
  • Enterprise Governance: Managed by a decentralized council of up to 39 global organizations across 11 industries.

HBAR Token

  • Purpose: Powers network services (smart contracts, file storage, transaction fees), staking, and governance.
  • Supply: ~42.39B HBAR in circulation, with a maximum supply of 50B.
  • Contract Address: 0x000000000000000000000000000000000006f84a (Hedera native). Add to wallets like MetaMask for EVM-compatible interactions CMC COINGECKO.

Who Are the Founders of Hedera?

Hedera was co-founded by Dr. Leemon Baird, inventor of the Hashgraph algorithm, and Mance Harmon, a cybersecurity and tech executive. Launched via an initial coin offering (ICO) in August 2018, the mainnet went live in September 2019. The Hedera Governing Council, including entities like Google and IBM, oversees development.

What Makes Hedera Unique?

Hedera stands out in the DLT ecosystem:

  • Hashgraph Technology: Offers blockchain-like security with higher speed and efficiency, bypassing mining-related bottlenecks.
  • Enterprise Focus: Partnerships with major firms (e.g., Boeing, Google) drive enterprise-grade dApp development.
  • EVM Compatibility: Supports Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) wallets and smart contracts, enhancing developer accessibility.
  • Ecosystem Growth: Integrates with projects like Hiero for developer activity and supports IoT networks via satellite partnerships.

Hedera Network Upgrades (2025)

  • Jumbo Ethereum Transactions (2025): Streamlines complex smart contract and large-scale data operations for EVM compatibility.
  • Satellite-Powered IoT Network (June 2025): Partnership with SEALSQ, WISeKey, SpaceX, and Astrocast to secure 1.6B+ IoT devices via 20+ satellites.
  • Orbit DeFi Platform (Q3 2025): Introduces one-click execution, real-time analytics, and limit orders for DEXs on Hedera.

How Is Hedera Secured?

  • aBFT Consensus: Ensures transaction integrity and ordering, even with delayed or lost data.
  • Proof-of-Stake (PoS): Validators stake HBAR to secure the network, enhancing efficiency and security.
  • Governance: Decentralized council ensures transparent, community-driven decisions.

Conclusion

Hedera (HBAR) is a high-performance, sustainable DLT network leveraging Hashgraph technology to overcome blockchain limitations. With a focus on enterprise adoption, EVM compatibility, and innovative partnerships (e.g., satellite IoT networks), Hedera bridges Web3 and real-world applications.