Founded in 2016, æternity is an open-source, blockchain-based distributed computing platform built on decentralized cryptographic P2P technology.

It aims to support high productivity, transparent governance, and worldwide scalability. æternity provides blockchain technology paired with a consensus mechanism intended to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

With its distinctive state channel approach, æternity makes it possible to validate data and smart contracts outside the main chain. This setup helps ensure transactions operate independently, which can improve transaction throughput and scalability while also enhancing privacy.

AE is the platform’s value token. It can be sent between members and is used to reward participant nodes for any computations they perform. Holders of AE are able to take part in governance of the aeternity blockchain via voting, with voting power weighted by the number of AE tokens each user holds.