The SKALE Network is a multichain network designed for Ethereum dApps. It emphasizes scalability, fast finality, and gas-free transactions through its native gas token, sFuel, and its utility token, SKL.  ^[1]

Jack O’Holleran and Stan Kladko are the co-founders of SKALE.

Overview

Founded in 2017, the SKALE Network is a Layer-2 scaling solution designed to alleviate congestion on the Ethereum network by establishing a sidechain environment. This framework enables developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) using SKALE elastic sidechains rather than relying solely on the Ethereum mainnet. When Ethereum progressed towards implementing Ethereum 2.0, transitioning from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake, SKALE offered an alternative approach to scaling the network. Users can customize sidechains according to their preferences, selecting protocols, sidechain size, virtual machine, parent blockchain, and security measures to create tailored Elastic Chains for their Dapps. ^[1][2]

Through this system, SKALE Network provides a scalable infrastructure that integrates seamlessly with Ethereum, offering a network of Elastic Sidechains accessible through monthly subscriptions for dApp developers. By utilizing specific sidechains, SKALE enhances the performance of Dapps on Ethereum with reduced latency and increased throughput, facilitating faster transactions across the network. ^[1][2]

SKALE DAO

The SKALE DAO governs the SKALE Network in a fully decentralized manner. Over 50 entities, including companies, organizations, and DAOs, contribute to supporting and managing the network. Additionally, thousands of community members actively participate in various aspects of the project, such as contributing to open-source code. Decisions regarding core smart contract changes require decentralized multi-signature approval from multiple entities and contributors. ^[3]

Technology

Elastic Sidechains

The SKALE Network project revolves around Elastic Sidechains, independent blockchain systems integrated with the Ethereum platform. Users have the flexibility to customize sidechains, known as "Elastic Sidechains," to meet specific requirements, allowing them to select consensus protocols, virtual machines, parent blockchains, and security protocols. Developers pay monthly subscriptions to utilize these sidechains for decentralized application (Dapp) development and hosting. Smart contracts on sidechains interact with mainnet contracts, ensuring interoperability between the Ethereum platform and SKALE sidechains while maintaining access to the Ethereum mainnet. SKALE facilitates transaction execution through sidechains, enabling the validation of multiple transactions simultaneously before sending them back to Ethereum for bulk verification, thereby accelerating transactions during network congestion. Additionally, SKALE sidechains serve as a conducive environment for testing Dapps, as any bugs or crashes within the sidechain environment do not impact the mainnet-facing Dapp. ^[2]

SKALE Chains

SKALE Chains are Ethereum-compatible blockchains designed to facilitate Web3 cloud computing for dApp developers, offering scalability and cost-effectiveness. These chains are powered by dockerized containers distributed across a network of over 150 nodes, operated by various validator organizations. Each SKALE Chain comprises 16 randomly selected nodes, each running containerized network clients with essential functions like the EVM. These nodes collaborate to process transactions and blocks efficiently using an advanced consensus mechanism called Asynchronous Binary Byzantine Agreement. ^[4]

SKALE Chains offer several key features essential for dApp development and operation. These include decentralized and permissionless network operation, seamless cross-chain integration with Ethereum, a user-friendly Web3 RPC API for easy migration of existing dApps, and customization options tailored to the specific needs of different applications. Additionally, SKALE Chains can be administered decentralized, providing flexibility in funding and governance models to suit various requirements. ^[4]

SKALE Chain Fuel (sFUEL)

SKALE Chains utilize sFUEL as their native token, facilitating scalable and zero-gas cost transactions for dApps and their users. sFUEL enables developers to scale their dApps economically and ensures an optimal user experience. Users are required to possess sFUEL to engage in transactions within SKALE Chains. This token is a zero-cost gas token with no intrinsic economic value, providing access to SKALE Chains and offering protection against potential DDoS attacks. ^[5]

SKL Token

The SKALE token (SKL) functions as a versatile utility token within the network, enabling users to engage in various activities such as validation, delegation, and accessing network resources. Developers utilize SKL to deploy and rent SKALE Chains, accessing computational, storage, and bandwidth resources through a subscription-based model. Validators stake SKL to participate in the network, running nodes and earning rewards through fees and tokens. Delegators can delegate their tokens to validators, earning rewards in return. ^[6][7]

SKL operates on the Ethereum blockchain as an ERC-777 token, providing backward compatibility with the widely-used ERC-20 standard. This compatibility allows existing Ethereum ecosystem participants supporting ERC-20 to integrate ERC-777 tokens like SKL seamlessly. This token standard plays a crucial role in SKALE's staking and delegation system, enabling direct delegation from wallets without intermediary smart contracts, unlike ERC-20 tokens. ^[6][7]

Tokenomics

The maximum supply of SKL tokens in the SKALE network is 7,000,000,000 and had the following distribution: ^[8]

• 33% - Validators Rewards
• 28.1% - Delegator Allocation
• 16% - Broader Founding Team
• 10% - SKALE Foundation
• 7.7% - Protocol Development Fund
• 4% - Core Team Pool
• 1.3% - Ecosystem Fund

Partnerships

NFTrade

In November 2022, NFTrade, a decentralized NFT Marketplace, was integrated into the SKALE Calypso NFT Hub. This partnership enabled users to mint, swap, and sell NFTs on SKALE's platform without encountering any gas fees. NFTrade's decentralized platform offered cross-chain compatibility, allowing users to seamlessly create, trade, and leverage NFTs across various blockchain networks. With this integration, users gained access to their entire NFT collection, unlocking the full potential of the NFT market within the SKALE ecosystem. ^[9]

"dApp, ecosystem, and sector-focused chains present a very interesting use case for potential projects looking to find the right product-market fit within a network. We are happy to partner with the SKALE team and support their ecosystem as they continue to innovate and work to push the bar forward in the NFT space." - Harrison Seletsky, Head of Growth and Strategy at NFTrade.

GPTVerse

On February 20, 2024, SKALE and GPTVerse partnered to address the challenge of integrating AI with blockchain technology. This collaboration was motivated by SKALE's zero gas fee structure, which makes it well-suited for running AI-based applications. GPTVerse operates as an ecosystem where blockchain intersects with AI, aiming to simplify interactions with AI technologies and enhance user engagement. By consolidating various AI applications into a single platform, GPTVerse provides users with a unified account and payment method, improving the user experience across web, mobile, browser extensions, and the Metaverse. With an emphasis on accessibility and innovation, GPTVerse caters to crypto and AI enthusiasts, aiming to make complex technologies more accessible to everyday users. ^[10]

"As GPTVerse, we develop multi-platform artificial intelligence chatbots and we have a working model that consumes Gptv tokens as we correspond. For this, we needed a fast, scalable, and cheap chain. Skale network met all our needs and charged 0 gas fees. We found that it works with our applications and can be integrated quickly. We express our gratitude to them."  - Hasan Özkul, CEO of GPTVerse.

Transak

On February 29, 2024, SKALE integrated Transak to tackle significant barriers to blockchain adoption: unpredictable gas fees and difficulties in entering digital assets seamlessly. Transak, a Web3 payment solution, enhances SKALE's capabilities, offering streamlined entry points into digital assets on the Appchain scaling network. This collaboration aims to provide a comprehensive solution, combining SKALE's affordability and usability with Transak's simplified user journey, ultimately removing obstacles to blockchain mass adoption. ^[11]

"Our partnership with SKALE marks a significant leap forward in Web3 gaming and blockchain accessibility. By combining SKALE's zero gas fee architecture with Transak's streamlined onboarding infrastructure, we're eliminating key barriers to blockchain adoption and opening new avenues for gamers worldwide." - Yeshu Agarwal, CTO of Transak.

ChainGPT

On March 15, 2024, SKALE and ChainGPT partnered to integrate AI technologies into the blockchain space. ChainGPT offers advanced AI infrastructure for the Web3 ecosystem, catering to various users and startups. This collaboration aims to make blockchain technology more accessible and efficient for AI-driven applications. SKALE's zero gas fee structure facilitates cost-effective innovation, enabling faster transaction times and scalability. ^[12]

“We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with SKALE, which marks a pivotal step in revolutionizing the AI infrastructure for crypto and Web3 technologies. Our mission to enable mass adoption of AI x Blockchain is perfectly aligned with SKALE's unmatched speed, security, and AI features. With SKALE's customizable infrastructure and excellent ecosystem support, we are excited to provide more value and new features to our ChainGPT community.” - Sharon Sciammas, CMO of ChainGPT.