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.

MetaHash is developing a blockchain platform for creating DApps. Their network has a multi Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism that is designed to increase transaction speeds and block formation times by using all of the nodes on the network.

Ternio is developing a scalable blockchain framework called Lexicon. It was originally a fork of Hyperledger Fabric, and is designed to handle the high transactions rates that enterprise business clients need. Ternio's framework uses its Lexicon Blockchain as a data protocol, and the Stellar Blockchain as a payment protocol. Ternio will have a Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) consensus mechanism. Ternio's marketing materials mention the benefits that their high performance, Lexicon blockchain can have in programmatic digital advertising, as well as a variety of other industries. Ternio also created the BlockCard; a crypto debit card that enables users to spend their cryptocurrency. Their network is currently powered by the Stellar-based TERN token.