[Crypto projects](https://revain.org/projects/) › aelf

# aelf (ELF): how it works, supply and reviews

## In short

- **Type**: Layer-1 blockchain: one MainChain connected to multiple dAppChains.
- **Maximum supply**: 1,000,000,000 ELF, hard-capped; the docs say ELF is not inflationary.
- **Risks and caveats**: The August 2026 security incident review is not final; aelf says some conclusions may change as forensic reviews continue.
- **Checked**: 1 November 2026

## Key facts

- **Ticker**: ELF
- **Official site**: [aelf.com](https://aelf.com/)

Key facts checked on 1 November 2026 against official sources.

## What is aelf

aelf is a layer-1 blockchain with a MainChain and multiple dAppChains, written in C#. Its native token ELF pays transaction fees and is staked to elect block producers. The project was founded in 2017 and its global hub is in Singapore.

## Network and consensus

| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer-1 blockchain: one MainChain connected to multiple dAppChains. |
| Consensus | AEDPoS (aelf Delegated Proof of Stake). |
| Block producers | 21 block producers and 4 candidate nodes, per the docs. |
| Launched | Testnet in 2018, mainnet in 2020. |
| Programming language | C#. |
| Open source | The AElf GitHub repository contains the code that runs an aelf node. |
| Explorer status | New MainChain and dAppChain blocks a few seconds old on 1 November 2026. |

## Supply and issuance

| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum supply | 1,000,000,000 ELF, hard-capped; the docs say ELF is not inflationary. |

## What ELF is used for

- Transaction fees on the aelf blockchain.
- Block index fees paid by developers for cross-chain indexing of dAppChains.
- Deposit to stand for election as a block producer.
- Voting for block producers and candidate nodes.

## Who develops and governs aelf

- **Governance**: Parliament model: holders vote for block producers and candidate nodes, and block producers submit proposals to the parliament.
- **Founders**: Co-founded in 2017 by Auric, its CEO.
- **Headquarters**: Registered office at Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore.
- **Developer**: aelf states it has over 100 employees.

## History

| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 10 December 2017 | aelf's plans are presented to investors at a CoinDesk conference. |
| 2018 | The aelf testnet launches. |
| 2020 | The aelf mainnet launches. |
| 12 February 2026 | The ETransfer cross-chain service is discontinued; eBridge remains the supported cross-chain tool. |
| 18 August 2026 | After detecting an unauthorised smart contract, aelf instructs all block producer nodes to pause the network. |
| 14 September 2026 | Public full-node access and several ecosystem services are restored after the network pause. |

## Security and audits

- aelf publishes audit reports from SlowMist and Trail of Bits in its GitHub audit repository.
- In August 2026, according to aelf, an unauthorised smart contract could deliver encoded .NET assemblies and instructions into the node contract-execution path.
- aelf states it found no evidence that ordinary users' assets were transferred or their wallet keys exposed, as of 26 August 2026.
- Block production stopped for about one week during the pause; no network staking rewards were generated in that period.

## Security incidents

| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 18 August 2026 | Exploit: aelf detected malicious smart-contract activity affecting the AELF MainChain and the tDVV dAppChain and moved the network into a controlled recovery process; the investigation was still open on 26 August 2026. Funds returned: not stated | [blog.aelf.com](https://blog.aelf.com/posts/aelf-security-incident-response-progress-update-0826) |
| 18 August 2026 | Network halt: All aelf block producer nodes were instructed to pause operations, a pause aelf described as its first emergency maintenance pause since mainnet launch. | [blog.aelf.com](https://blog.aelf.com/posts/network-pause-upgrade-maintenance-announcement) |

## Official ELF contracts

| Network | Contract address |
|---|---|
| Ethereum | [0xbf2179859fc6d5bee9bf9158632dc51678a4100e](https://etherscan.io/token/0xbf2179859fc6d5bee9bf9158632dc51678a4100e) |

ELF is native on the aelf MainChain (ELF_JRmBduh4nXWi1aXgdUsj5gJrzeZb2LxmrAbf7W99faZSvoAaE_AELF) and dAppChain; the Ethereum contract is a bridged ERC-20 per the docs.

## Risks and caveats

- The August 2026 security incident review is not final; aelf says some conclusions may change as forensic reviews continue.
- Exchange deposits and withdrawals resumed unevenly after the network pause; availability differs by exchange.
- Block production depends on a small set of elected block producers (21 per the docs).

## Official links

- Website: [aelf.com](https://aelf.com/)
- Docs: [docs.aelf.com](https://docs.aelf.com)
- Whitepaper: [docs.aelf.com/resources/whitepaper-2](https://docs.aelf.com/resources/whitepaper-2/)
- Source code: [github.com/AElfProject/AElf](https://github.com/AElfProject/AElf)
- Block explorer: [aelfscan.io](https://aelfscan.io/)
- Blog: [blog.aelf.com](https://blog.aelf.com)
- Governance forum: [forum.aelf.com](https://forum.aelf.com/)

## Questions and answers

**What is aelf?**

aelf is a layer-1 blockchain with a MainChain and multiple dAppChains, written in C#, founded in 2017 with its hub in Singapore.

**What is the maximum supply of ELF?**

1,000,000,000 ELF, hard-capped according to the aelf docs.

**How does aelf reach consensus?**

It uses AEDPoS (aelf Delegated Proof of Stake), with 21 block producers and 4 candidate nodes according to the docs.

**Was aelf hacked?**

In August 2026 an unauthorised smart contract attacked the node execution path and the network was paused for about a week. As of 26 August 2026 aelf said it had found no evidence that ordinary users' assets were moved; the final review was still pending.

## Sources

- [aelf - Home](https://aelf.com/)
- [aelf Docs - Introduction](https://docs.aelf.com/about-aelf/introduction/)
- [aelf Docs - ELF token](https://docs.aelf.com/about-aelf/elf-token/)
- [aelf Docs - Governance](https://docs.aelf.com/about-aelf/governance/)
- [aelf Docs - Technical & Security](https://docs.aelf.com/about-aelf/technical-and-security/)
- [GitHub - AElfProject/AElf](https://github.com/AElfProject/AElf)
- [GitHub - aelf audit reports](https://github.com/AElfProject/aelf-audit-reports)
- [aelf Blog - Temporary Network Pause (18 August 2026)](https://blog.aelf.com/posts/network-pause-upgrade-maintenance-announcement)
- [aelf Blog - Security Incident Response Progress Update (26 August 2026)](https://blog.aelf.com/posts/aelf-security-incident-response-progress-update-0826)
- [aelf Blog - Recovery Update (14 September 2026)](https://blog.aelf.com/posts/aelf-recovery-update-key-services-are-back-online)
- [aelf Blog - ETransfer Service Sunset (10 February 2026)](https://blog.aelf.com/posts/etransfer-service-sunset-announcement)
- [aelfscan - explorer](https://aelfscan.io/)

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Page updated: 2026-11-01

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Source: https://revain.org/projects/aelf/