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Brief
Tezos

Tezos

Self-amending protocol eliminates disruptive hard forks

tezos.comSwitzerland (Tezos Foundation), SwitzerlandFounded 2018

Last updated May 11, 2026

Industry
Blockchain Infrastructure / Smart Contract Platform
Business Model
Decentralized Protocol / Open-Source Infrastructure
Target Market
Developers, enterprises, financial institutions, NFT creators, DeFi protocols, and blockchain application builders seeking a secure, upgradable smart contract platform
Employee Count
Decentralized network (Foundation: 11-50)
Funding
ICO-funded / Operational Network
API Available
Market Position

Tezos positions itself as an institutional-grade, self-amending blockchain platform emphasizing governance, security, and formal verification. It competes in the Layer 1 blockchain space with a focus on sustainability, upgradability, and enterprise adoption, particularly in regulated industries and high-value NFT markets.

Overview

Tezos is a decentralized, open-source blockchain network that enables peer-to-peer transactions and serves as a platform for deploying smart contracts. Distinguished by its self-amending protocol, Tezos allows the network to upgrade itself without requiring hard forks, providing a more sustainable and adaptable blockchain infrastructure. The platform utilizes a liquid proof-of-stake consensus mechanism that enables token holders to participate in network governance and validation while maintaining energy efficiency. The Tezos ecosystem supports a wide range of decentralized applications (dApps), including decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces, and enterprise blockchain solutions. With its focus on formal verification and security, Tezos has attracted institutional adoption across various sectors including finance, gaming, real estate, and digital art. The network's native cryptocurrency, XTZ (also known as "tez"), serves as both a utility token for transaction fees and a governance token for protocol amendments. Tezos operates through a global, decentralized community of developers, validators (bakers), and token holders, supported by various foundations and development organizations worldwide. The platform emphasizes long-term upgradability, on-chain governance, and security through mathematical verification, positioning itself as an institutional-grade blockchain solution for mission-critical applications requiring high assurance and regulatory compliance.

Products & Features

Self-Amending Protocol

On-chain governance mechanism that allows the protocol to upgrade itself without hard forks through stakeholder voting

Liquid Proof-of-Stake

Energy-efficient consensus mechanism enabling token holders to delegate their staking rights while maintaining network security

Smart Contract Platform

Supports multiple smart contract languages including Michelson, SmartPy, and LIGO for building decentralized applications

Formal Verification

Mathematical techniques to verify smart contract correctness and security, reducing vulnerabilities in critical applications

Baking (Staking)

Validation mechanism where token holders can participate in block creation and earn rewards by staking XTZ tokens

FA2 Token Standard

Flexible token standard supporting fungible, non-fungible, and multi-asset tokens on the Tezos blockchain

Sapling Protocol

Privacy-preserving protocol integration enabling shielded transactions and confidential smart contracts

Tezos Domains

Decentralized naming service for human-readable addresses and identity management on the Tezos network

Corporate history
  • 2018Founded
Connections

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