The Avalanche token (AVAX) performs various tasks within Avalanche's Proof of Stake blockchain network. The Avalanche token functions as a rewards and payment system for users. The network is designed to be an open-source platform for launching highly decentralized applications, enterprise deployments, and decentralized financial instruments. The Avalanche ecosystem is meant to be smore scalable and interoperable than other blockchain platforms. Unlike Bitcoin and many other networks, transaction fees are “burnt” in order to increase token scarcity. This process is offset by the release, or “minting,” of new coins.
Avalanche was launched by Ava Labs, whose founder Emin Gün Sirer is a veteran computer scientist that has been very influential in the Blockchain space. Gün Sirer is a computer science professor at Cornell University and has written extensively about scaling blockchain networks.

The Aztec Protocol is an efficient zero-knowledge privacy protocol designed to enable private transactions on the Ethereum blocckhain. Their zero-knowledge proofs enable private transactions that can facilitate a variety of inter-operable financial applications on Ethereum. Aztec is a ConsenSys portfolio company.

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Aergo is developing an SQL based smart contract platform that will allow developers to more easily share data and create DApps. Their platform will combine elements of public and private blockchain architectures and will have a hybrid BFT/dPoS consensus mechanism. The ERGO Hub will serve as a blockchain hosting service that will allow users to test and deploy their own blockchains. Their network is currently powered by the Etherem-based AERGO token.