SHM token

Shardeum, the EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain focused on scalability and decentralization, has officially launched its mainnet—and it’s already making headlines. After a short delay, the launch follows a record-breaking testnet phase that attracted over 1.4 million participants and more than 171,000 active public validator nodes, marking a new benchmark for validator involvement in the Layer 1 ecosystem. What Makes Shardeum Unique? At its core, Shardeum aims to crack the long-standing blockchain trilemma—balancing scalability, decentralization, and affordability without compromise. Thanks to its autoscaling and sharding architecture, the network splits workloads across different validator sets (or “shards”), allowing transactions to be processed in parallel with ultra-low gas fees, as low as $0.01, even under high traffic. The mainnet is launching with 256 validators distributed across two shards, and offers a lightweight setup where anyone can run a node in under a minute using a simple command—no expensive hardware or massive staking required. Strong Industry Backing Shardeum’s launch is being supported by several key partners: The project is also releasing 60+ open-source repositories and introducing a validator accountability system, where underperforming nodes are automatically rotated out—ensuring network integrity and fairness. SHM Token Launch and Utility Alongside the mainnet, Shardeum has also launched its native token, SHM, with a total circulating supply of 249 million tokens. The distribution breakdown includes: All major allocations are subject to a 3-month cliff and 2-year daily linear vesting, ensuring long-term sustainability. SHM will be used for governance, staking, and gas payments on the network. SHM is set to list on major crypto exchanges including BitMart, CoinW, and MEXC, and is fully compatible with EVM wallets like MetaMask, OKX Wallet, and Trust Wallet. Developer Rollout Coming Soon According to Srini Parthasarathy, Shardeum’s Chief Technology Officer, the mainnet marks more than just a technical launch—it’s a demonstration that the blockchain trilemma can be solved. “Launching mainnet with a record-size grassroots validator set is exactly the kind of milestone that convinces us Shardeum will be the foundation for the next wave of Web3 applications,” said Parthasarathy. The second half of 2025 will see developers testing smart contracts on the new mainnet, followed by the rollout of fully-deployed dApps. What’s Next for Shardeum? Originally planned for mid-April, the mainnet was pushed to May due to market volatility. With the network now live and supported by a massive validator community, Shardeum is positioning itself as a go-to platform for scalable and decentralized Web3 development.