Avalanche (AVAX): how it works, supply and reviews
In short
- Type
- Layer-1 network: the Primary Network runs the C-Chain, P-Chain and X-Chain; projects can launch their own Avalanche L1s
- Maximum supply
- Hard cap of 720,000,000 AVAX
- Risks and caveats
- AVAX supply keeps growing through staking rewards and is expected to remain inflationary for a long time.
- Checked
- 31 October 2026
Visitor ratings: do you like Avalanche?
Key facts
- Ticker
- AVAX
- Official site
- avax.network
Key facts checked on 31 October 2026 against official sources.
What is Avalanche
Avalanche is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform made of a Primary Network and independent Avalanche L1 chains. Its C-Chain runs Ethereum-compatible smart contracts, and AVAX is the native token used for fees and staking.
Network and consensus
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer-1 network: the Primary Network runs the C-Chain, P-Chain and X-Chain; projects can launch their own Avalanche L1s |
| Consensus | Snowman consensus with proof-of-stake validators; sub-second, irreversible finality |
| Smart contracts | Yes; the C-Chain implements the Ethereum Virtual Machine and runs Solidity contracts (chain ID 43114) |
| Validators | Any node staking at least 2,000 AVAX can validate the Primary Network |
| Launched | Mainnet launched in September 2020 |
Supply and issuance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum supply | Hard cap of 720,000,000 AVAX |
| Initial distribution | 360,000,000 AVAX minted at genesis |
| Staking rewards | New AVAX is minted for validators at the end of a successful staking period; the rate shrinks as supply nears the cap |
| Fee burn | All transaction fees are burned |
| Inflation | Minting usually exceeds burning, so AVAX is expected to stay mildly inflationary until near the cap |
What AVAX is used for
- Paying transaction fees on the Primary Network
- Staking to secure the network, with voting weight proportional to stake
- A common unit of account between Avalanche L1s
Who develops and governs Avalanche
- Foundation
- The Avalanche Foundation launched the public network and funds ecosystem growth
- Developer
- Ava Labs, founded in 2018, develops the core software and provides services to the Foundation
- Governance
- No single owner; validators weigh in on network decisions in proportion to stake; upgrades are proposed as ACPs
- Open source
- Yes; the AvalancheGo node is licensed under BSD-3
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Ava Labs, the main developer of Avalanche software, is founded. |
| September 2020 | The Avalanche mainnet launches with 360 million AVAX minted at genesis. |
| 22 September 2026 | The Helicon upgrade activates; the C-Chain moves to the Continuous Execution VM and the minimum validator staking period drops to 48 hours. |
Security and audits
- Vulnerabilities are reported privately through a bug bounty programme on Immunefi; testing on live networks is not allowed.
- Avalanche does not slash staked tokens; misbehaving validators lose their rewards instead.
Risks and caveats
- AVAX supply keeps growing through staking rewards and is expected to remain inflationary for a long time.
- Node software must be upgraded for network upgrades; nodes on old releases stop following mainnet.
- Core software is developed mainly by one company, Ava Labs.
Official links
- Website: www.avax.network
- Docs: build.avax.network/docs/primary-network
- Source code: github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego
- Block explorer: explorer.avax.network/c-chain
- Foundation: www.avax.network/about/foundation
Questions and answers
What is Avalanche?
Avalanche is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform whose Primary Network runs the EVM-compatible C-Chain, the P-Chain and the X-Chain. AVAX is its native token.
Who created Avalanche?
Core software is developed by Ava Labs, founded in 2018; the Avalanche Foundation launched the public network in September 2020.
What is the maximum supply of AVAX?
AVAX is capped at 720 million. 360 million were minted at genesis; the rest is minted gradually as staking rewards.
How does Avalanche reach consensus?
It uses Snowman consensus run by proof-of-stake validators, giving sub-second final confirmation.
Are AVAX fees burned?
Yes. Transaction fees on Avalanche are burned and permanently removed from supply.
Sources
- Avalanche — About
- Avalanche — Foundation
- Avalanche Builder Hub — Primary Network
- Avalanche Builder Hub — AVAX Token
- Avalanche Builder Hub — Snowman Consensus
- Avalanche Builder Hub — Helicon Upgrade
- AvalancheGo README (GitHub)
- AvalancheGo Security Policy (GitHub)
More in this section
- Enjin Coin (ENJ)
- Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)
- Arbitrum (ARB)
- BNB Chain (BNB)
- Internet Computer (ICP)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- All Crypto projects →
How voting works
Votes are anonymous and carry no text. Each device has one vote per item; press the same button again to remove it. Cloudflare Turnstile checks that a person is voting. We keep a random device ID in a cookie and a salted hash of the IP address to limit abuse — no names, no accounts. Votes are visitors’ opinions, not investment advice.
Page updated: