Shardeum is an EVM-compatible Layer 1 smart contract network that enables developers and businesses to build programmable onchain applications, including real-world asset tokenization, stablecoins, payments, marketplaces, and DeFi.
It is designed to offer low, predictable fees, fast finality, and scalable infrastructure for applications and users worldwide.
SHM is the ticker symbol of Shardeum’s native token. It is the network’s utility token and serves several functions:
SHM trading is live on leading crypto exchanges including Kucoin and MEXC. For full list of exchanges, please visit this page. More centralized and decentralized exchange listings are coming soon.
You can find the mainnet endpoint here.
Any EVM-compatible wallet will work with Shardeum, including, MetaMask.
Getting started with Shardeum is straightforward and permissionless. Whether you’re a user, builder, validator, or community contributor, here are the key ways to begin:
Shardeum is an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain with a modular architecture that separates execution, consensus and networking, and state management. This allows individual components to be optimized and upgraded while keeping execution, security, and state within a single cohesive network.
Validators stake SHM to propose and validate blocks and participate in Proof-of-Stake consensus, while delegators contribute to network security by staking SHM with validators. Users and developers can also operate full or RPC nodes to verify network data and provide infrastructure for applications.
Transactions are submitted through standard EVM interfaces, validated and included in blocks, with smart contracts executed through the EVM. Blocks are produced approximately every 2–3 seconds and use deterministic finality, meaning finalized transactions do not require additional block confirmations.
For developers, EVM compatibility means familiar Solidity smart contracts, wallets, APIs, and Ethereum development tools can be used on Shardeum. The architecture is also designed to support further performance and scalability enhancements as the network evolves.
Shardeum provides an EVM-compatible Layer 1 foundation for businesses, institutions, and developers to build and deploy applications that connect real-world assets, rights, payments, and services with onchain infrastructure. Beyond infrastructure, Shardeum has built a global community of more than 1.2 million across its ecosystem and channels, helping drive participation, feedback, and adoption.
Businesses and institutions can use Shardeum to explore applications such as asset tokenization, programmable payments and settlement, AI-enabled applications, digital ownership and rights, marketplaces, stablecoin-powered transactions, and other blockchain-based workflows. Developers can build these applications using familiar EVM standards, Solidity, wallets, and Ethereum-compatible tooling.
Shardeum combines familiar EVM standards with low, predictable fees, fast finality, a global community footprint, and an evolving modular architecture – giving businesses an alternative to competing on economics and for ecosystem attention within highly mature EVM ecosystems, or adopting non-EVM networks with different development standards and tooling.
Sikka.fun, a consumer application built on Shardeum, provides a real-world example of sustained and varied onchain activity. The platform has recorded more than 33,000 trades and approximately 6.5 billion SHM in cumulative trading volume, alongside thousands of coin creations, deployments, reward claims, referrals, and campaign-driven transactions.
Individual trading campaigns have also generated concentrated periods of activity, including thousands of trades and hundreds of millions of SHM in volume – providing developers and businesses with a practical reference point for applications with frequent, user-driven transactions.
Shardeum’s approach combines grassroots community building, developer support, real-world applications, and engagement with businesses and institutions. Its flagship Proof of Community initiative has conducted nearly 600 meetups across 22 countries, complementing a global community footprint of more than 1.2 million across its ecosystem and channels.
Our approach includes:
The goal is not simply to increase wallet numbers, but to create sustained onchain activity around applications that people and organizations have a reason to use.
You can find them under the developer section in our official docs page.
Shardeum has two primary node types:
Depending on their infrastructure needs, developers, dApps, explorers, indexers, and service providers may also operate:
Refer to our developer documentation for guidance on running Validator, Full, Archive, and RPC nodes.
Follow the simple steps listed on our validator dashboard page to delegate SHM, contribute to network security, and earn staking rewards in return.
Delegation allows SHM holders to support network security and earn staking rewards without running a validator node. More than 1.8 billion SHM is currently staked on Shardeum, reflecting strong participation in securing the network.
You can find the relevant details in Shardeum’s official docs page.
Following the community-approved SHM redenomination (1:240) in October 2025, the initial supply was adjusted to ~59.76 billion SHM. Allocations remain identical in percentage terms since this was purely a token split, not a supply increase through inflation.
Similar to Ethereum, node rewards will not be pre-minted. Validator rewards will still come from ongoing issuance, designed to keep the network secure and to ensure validators are always incentivized. What’s different is that the validator rewards will now follow a fixed issuance schedule rather than a dynamic model, which is by the way, a technical adjustment required by the validator design of the adopted EVM software. Instead of generating rewards dynamically, a fixed issuance schedule will define the supply allocated to validators each year.
Here is the link to Shardeum whitepaper. Please note that the whitepaper is being updated currently, and the exact details will be available soon.
OCC is short for Open, Collaborative and Community-Driven. OCC is the core principle of Shardeum. Read more here
Community participation is always essential for Shardeum’s growth. Members can support the network by running nodes, staking/delegating SHM, building applications, answering questions to guide newcomers, or joining/organizing hackathons, meetups, and campaigns. Beyond technical contributions, Shardeum’s recently launched Ambassador Program has opened new avenues for involvement, empowering community members to create content, spread awareness, and champion Shardeum within their local networks. Every act of participation – whether coding, educating, or advocating – helps strengthen the ecosystem, accelerate adoption, and build the foundation for Shardeum’s smart contract platform.
If you don’t find an answer to your question in our FAQ pages here, feel free to post your questions or doubts directly on the Shardeum Discord. Our team and community members will be happy to help.
Always start with this golden rule: Do Your Own Research (DYOR). It’s especially crucial in a space like Web3, which blends cutting-edge technology with elements of finance, economics, capital markets, and governance. Blockchain isn’t just about innovation and valuable education – it’s about empowering individuals with true ownership of their assets and data. At its core, it promotes transparency, permissionless access, identity, and open-source infrastructure – all of which make informed decision-making essential.
With this foundation in mind, you can start with setting up a self-custodial wallet and connecting to decentralized networks. This blog guides you through that process and highlights other key steps to help ensure a secure experience.
