Shardeum
Shardeum is a Switzerland-domiciled Layer 1 blockchain protocol offering EVM-compatible smart contracts with linearly scalable throughput via dynamic state sharding, targeting Indian developers, retail crypto users, and a global validator ecosystem of 171,000+ participants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersZug, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Shardeum does
Shardeum is a Layer 1 blockchain protocol that delivers EVM-compatible smart contract execution with linearly scalable throughput via dynamic state sharding and transaction-level consensus. The architecture separates execution, consensus, networking, and state management into distinct layers, uses a combined Proof-of-Stake and BFT consensus (Tendermint-derived), and is designed so that adding nodes linearly increases transactions per second — 100 nodes deliver 500 TPS, 1,000 nodes deliver 5,000 TPS — while maintaining decentralization through permissionless validator participation with a 1 SHM minimum stake. The platform supports standard Ethereum tooling (Solidity, MetaMask, Hardhat, Foundry, Remix, OpenZeppelin) so existing Ethereum developers can deploy contracts without code changes, and is positioned around fast ~2-3 second deterministic finality, predictable low fees, and a NO-MEV design where transactions are processed strictly in order received. The Shardeum Foundation, domiciled in Zug, Switzerland, is the operating entity.
The company monetizes via SHM-denominated transaction (gas) fees paid by transaction senders, distributed to validators and delegators under protocol rules; the foundation's own corporate revenue from the protocol is not separately disclosed. Shardeum's go-to-market is community-led and product-led growth, targeting Indian developers, builders, and retail crypto users through the Shardeum Builder Program, Developer Grant Program, Accelerator Program, hackathons, ambassador network, monthly quests, and 570+ Proof of Community events across 22 countries. Sikka.fun, a mobile-first memecoin launch platform, serves as the primary consumer-facing application and onboarding funnel for Indian retail users. The ecosystem includes 150+ live projects (DEXs, NFT platforms, domain services, Sybil-resistance networks) and over 247,000 deployed contracts. Notable investors include Spartan Group (lead seed), Jane Street, CoinGecko Ventures, Amber Group, and Big Brain Holdings across a $18.2M seed (October 2022) and $5.4M strategic round (July 2023) at a $248M valuation. Co-founders are Nischal Shetty (also co-founder of India's largest crypto exchange WazirX) and Omar Syed.
Geographic restrictions exclude the US, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, and several other jurisdictions; primary geographic focus is India, with EU expansion enabled by MiCA whitepaper acknowledgement in 2025.
Shardeum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shardeum
- Legal name
- Shardeum Foundation
- Website
- http://shardeum.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Shardeum is a Switzerland-domiciled Layer 1 blockchain protocol offering EVM-compatible smart contracts with linearly scalable throughput via dynamic state sharding, targeting Indian developers, retail crypto users, and a global validator ecosystem of 171,000+ participants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shardeum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Layer 1 Blockchain Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Layer 1 Base Protocols & Consensus (execution, consensus, security, clients) (FSAPAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Smart Contract Developer Platforms & Tooling (SDKs, APIs, frameworks, indexing) (FSAPAAAH), MEV, Sequencing & Transaction Supply Chain (builders, searchers, PBS, auctions) (FSAPAAAG)
Keywords
Where Shardeum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zug
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shardeum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Transaction Fees (Gas Fees): All transaction fees on Shardeum are denominated in SHM, the network's native token, and paid by the transaction sender. Fees are deducted as part of transaction execution and distributed according to protocol rules to validators and delegators. The fee model is designed to remain predictable under normal network conditions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Network transaction fee (gas) in SHM |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels12 records
Shardeum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shardeum is an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain that uses dynamic state sharding and transaction-level consensus to deliver linearly scalable throughput while keeping fees low and predictable. The platform supports Solidity smart contracts via standard Ethereum tooling (MetaMask, Hardhat, Foundry, Remix, OpenZeppelin) and is anchored by the SHM native token used for gas and staking.
Product overview
Shardeum is a unified EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain platform built specifically for India's onchain ecosystem. The core product is the Shardeum blockchain network, which utilizes dynamic state sharding technology to deliver linear scalability, low transaction fees, and fast finality (~2-3 seconds). The platform is anchored by its native SHM token used for transaction fees and staking. Developer accessibility is enabled through full EVM compatibility, supporting standard Solidity contracts and Ethereum tooling (Hardhat, Foundry, Remix, MetaMask). Key products include the Sikka.fun mobile-first memecoin launch platform, the blockchain explorer, validator dashboard for staking and delegation, comprehensive developer documentation, and the dApp boilerplate for rapid application development. The network supports community participation through validator nodes (1 SHM minimum stake), full nodes, and RPC nodes, with an ambassador program and Shardeum University for education. The platform transitioned from token-only mainnet to full EVM smart contract support in November 2023.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sikka.fun: A mobile-first coin launch platform where users can discover and explore community-driven memecoins, all in one simple app. Built for India.
Products and services
- Shardeum Blockchain EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain using dynamic state sharding to deliver linear scalability, low predictable fees, no MEV, ~2-3 second deterministic finality, and full Solidity smart contract support. Built for developers and retail crypto users, with primary focus on India's onchain ecosystem.
- SHM Token Native cryptocurrency token of the Shardeum network with an initial supply of 249 million SHM. Used for transaction fees (gas), staking, delegation, and governance participation. Token allocation: 36.72% public sale, 30.6% team, 22.44% foundation, 10.23% ecosystem and airdrops.
- Sikka.fun Mobile-first coin launch platform built on Shardeum where users can discover, create, and trade community-driven memecoins. Features zero-cost coin creation, on-chain referral systems, and creator trading rewards. Available as a mobile app and web app, positioned as a gateway for onboarding India's next 100 million crypto users.
- Shardeum Explorer Blockchain explorer for viewing transactions, blocks, wallet addresses, and contract data on Shardeum. Provides public visibility into on-chain activity for both mainnet and testnet.
- Validator Dashboard Self-serve graphical interface at dashboard.shardeum.org for validators and delegators to stake SHM, delegate to validators, monitor rewards, and participate in network security. Supports single-click node deployment on GCP and AWS.
- Shardeum dApp Boilerplate Pre-configured starter kit with Vite, React, TypeScript frontend and Solidity smart contract templates for rapid dApp development on Shardeum. Includes OpenZeppelin-secured ERC20 token contracts and is hosted on GitHub.
Quantifiable outcome
- 171,000+ public validators participated in the testnet, a record for Layer 1 blockchains
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Shardeum
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shardeum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature10 records
Shardeum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- WazirXcoreWazirX, India's largest crypto exchange by trading volume and co-founded by Shardeum co-founder Nischal Shetty, runs multi-phase SHM token airdrops and is integrated with Sikka.fun on Shardeum. WazirX users receive SHM airdrops and can participate in ecosystem activities. The WazirX cyberattack (July 2024, $235M lost to Lazarus group) is noted in the broader context of the Indian crypto ecosystem Shardeum operates within.
- Sikka.FuncoreSikka.fun is a mobile-first memecoin launch platform built on Shardeum, serving as the primary consumer-facing application on the blockchain. Over 900 coins created, 529M+ SHM in trading volume, and referral rewards of 237M+ SHM distributed. Multiple airdrop phases connect WazirX users to the platform.
- MetaMaskcoreMetaMask, the leading Ethereum-compatible wallet, is natively supported by Shardeum for wallet connection, transaction signing, and dApp interaction. Developers can connect MetaMask to Shardeum testnet and mainnet for smart contract deployment and transaction signing.
- HardhatcoreHardhat, the popular Ethereum development framework, is supported for smart contract compilation, testing, and deployment on Shardeum.
- FoundrycoreFoundry, the Solidity development framework, is supported for smart contract development and deployment on Shardeum.
- Remix IDEcoreRemix, the browser-based Solidity IDE, is supported for writing, compiling, and deploying smart contracts on Shardeum.
- OpenZeppelincoreOpenZeppelin's smart contract libraries (including security-reviewed ERC20 implementations) are integrated into Shardeum's dApp boilerplate and recommended for secure smart contract development.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shardeum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Polygon: EVM-compatible Layer 1/L2 scaling solution for Ethereum with a large developer ecosystem and zkEVM rollup stack. Directly comparable as an EVM-targeted scaling chain competing for the same developer and user mindshare Shardeum targets, especially in India.
- Avalanche: EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain using a novel consensus protocol (Snowman) with subnets for horizontal scaling. Comparable as an EVM L1 with a focus on high throughput, low fees, and customizable subnets — the same scalability narrative Shardeum pushes.
- Sei Network: EVM-compatible Layer 1 with parallelized execution for high throughput, targeting trading and DeFi use cases. Comparable to Shardeum as a newer EVM L1 with a parallelization-driven scalability pitch and similar market timing.
- NEAR Protocol: Sharded Layer 1 blockchain with EVM compatibility via Aurora. Comparable to Shardeum on sharding-based scalability and EVM tooling, and competing in similar emerging-market growth strategies.
Broad incumbents
- BNB Chain: EVM-compatible Layer 1 with very low fees and large retail user base, especially strong in Asia and emerging markets. Comparable to Shardeum in addressing India/Southeast Asia retail crypto users, but with vastly deeper liquidity and ecosystem maturity.
- Solana: Non-EVM Layer 1 optimized for high throughput and low fees, dominant in DeFi and consumer crypto. Comparable as a high-performance L1 with a similar scalability narrative, though without EVM compatibility — a strategic alternative developers weigh against Shardeum.
Emerging players
- Monad: Upcoming EVM-compatible Layer 1 with parallel execution and high throughput, targeting Ethereum-compatible dApp migration. Directly comparable to Shardeum's EVM + scalability pitch and competing for the same developer talent pool.
- Berachain: EVM-identical Layer 1 using Proof of Liquidity consensus. Comparable to Shardeum as a newer EVM L1 raising significant capital to bootstrap a validator and developer ecosystem.
- Aptos: Move-based Layer 1 with parallel execution for high throughput. Comparable to Shardeum as a newer high-performance L1 targeting mass-market adoption, though without EVM compatibility by default.
- Sui: Move-based Layer 1 with parallel transaction processing and horizontal scaling. Comparable to Shardeum's horizontal scaling / sharding narrative and similarly targeting consumer-grade applications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shardeum social profiles
Digital presenceShardeum compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Shardeum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shardeum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Shardeum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors33 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shardeum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shardeum
What does Shardeum do?
Shardeum is an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain that uses dynamic state sharding and transaction-level consensus to deliver linearly scalable throughput while keeping fees low and predictable. The platform supports Solidity smart contracts via standard Ethereum tooling (MetaMask, Hardhat, Foundry, Remix, OpenZeppelin) and is anchored by the SHM native token used for gas and staking.
Is Shardeum a public or private company?
Shardeum is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Shardeum founded?
Shardeum was founded in 2022. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Shardeum based?
Shardeum is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Shardeum make money?
One revenue line is on record: transaction Fees (Gas Fees).
Who are Shardeum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Polygon, Avalanche, Sei Network and NEAR Protocol. Broad incumbents are BNB Chain and Solana. Emerging players are Monad, Berachain, Aptos and Sui.
Does Shardeum have an API?
Yes. Shardeum provides standard Ethereum JSON-RPC endpoints for developers. Mainnet RPC endpoint: https://api.shardeum.org with Chain ID 8118. Testnet RPC endpoint: https://api-mezame.shardeum.org with Chain ID 8119. The network supports standard Ethereum JSON-RPC methods including eth_chainId, eth_getBalance, eth_getTransactionCount, eth_getTransactionReceipt, and eth_call. Developers can use the public RPC endpoint for initial integration and validation, with the option to run dedicated RPC nodes for greater reliability or operational control. Developer documentation is at docs.shardeum.org.
What industry is Shardeum in?
Shardeum's product category is Layer 1 Blockchain Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPAAAA, Layer 1 Base Protocols & Consensus (execution, consensus, security, clients), with a secondary code of FSAPAAAH, Smart Contract Developer Platforms & Tooling (SDKs, APIs, frameworks, indexing). Its NAICS code is 52232 and its SIC code is 6199.