Zilliqa (ZIL), launched in January 2018, is a layer-1 blockchain designed for high-throughput, scalable smart contract execution using sharding technology. Built to support dApps in gaming, DeFi, and NFTs, Zilliqa processes transactions efficiently with low fees. Its native token, ZIL, powers transactions, staking, and governance.

Key Features

  • Sharding Technology: Divides the network into smaller nodes (shards) to process up to 2,828 TPS, surpassing Ethereum (~25 TPS).
  • Scilla Language: Uses a secure, custom smart contract language to minimize vulnerabilities.
  • Proof-of-Work + PoS: Combines PoW for miner identity with pBFT (practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance) for consensus.
  • Ecosystem: Trades on 97+ exchanges (e.g., Binance, HTX) and 150+ markets, with wallet support like ZilPay and Ledger.

ZIL Token

  • Purpose: Used for transaction fees, staking, governance, and incentivizing miners.
  • Supply: ~19.8B ZIL in circulation, with a maximum supply of 21B.
  • Contract Address: Native to Zilliqa; CoinGecko CMC.

Who Are the Founders of ZIL?

Zilliqa was co-founded by Xinshu Dong, Amrit Kumar, and Max Kantelia, researchers from the National University of Singapore. Launched via a $22M ICO in 2017, Zilliqa is backed by the Zilliqa Foundation and governed by a community-driven model with input from ZIL stakers.

What Makes ZIL Unique?

Zilliqa stands out in Web3:

  • Scalability via Sharding: Processes transactions in parallel, enabling linear scaling as the network grows.
  • Eco-Friendly Consensus: Uses less energy than traditional PoW, with pBFT reducing environmental impact.
  • Gaming and NFT Hub: Powers dApps like ZilSwap (DeFi) and Xcademy (NFTs), with ~$10M TVL.
  • Developer-Friendly: Scilla’s formal verification enhances smart contract security, appealing to enterprise use cases.

ZIL Network Upgrades (2025)

  • Zilliqa 2.0 (Q2 2025): Enhanced sharding and EVM compatibility, boosting dApp interoperability.
  • Layer-2 Rollups (March 2025): Introduced testnet for Zilliqa rollups, reducing fees by 25% for high-throughput dApps.
  • NFT Marketplace V2 (June 2025): Upgraded Xcademy, increasing NFT trading volume by 15%.

  • How Is ZIL Secured?

Zilliqa and ZIL are secured through:

  • Hybrid PoW/pBFT: PoW establishes miner identity, while pBFT ensures consensus with ~70% node honesty.
  • Smart Contract Audits: Scilla contracts audited by firms like Quantstamp for security.
  • Staking Security: ~40% of ZIL is staked, aligning incentives for validators (gZIL governance tokens sunset in 2024).
  • Decentralized Governance: Community proposals drive upgrades, reducing centralized control.

Conclusion

Zilliqa (ZIL) is a scalable layer-1 blockchain, leveraging sharding and Scilla for secure, high-throughput dApps. With 19.8B circulating supply, and 97+ exchange listings, Zilliqa powers gaming, DeFi, and NFTs. Its 2025 upgrades like Zilliqa 2.0 and eco-friendly consensus position it as a competitive Web3 platform, though it faces challenges from newer layer-1s.