The blockchain industry is always evolving, with new projects bringing innovative solutions. Aptos is a blockchain designed for speed, security, and scalability. It aims to improve transaction efficiency while ensuring strong security. Aptos uses a unique Move programming language and offers a high transaction throughput of 160,000 tps and low fees.
This guide will explain what Aptos is, how it works, use cases of APT tokens, and how to buy and store APT tokens.
What is Aptos?
Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain designed to be fast, secure, and scalable, launched in 2022, with its mainnet called “Aptos Autumn”. The blockchain is built to process over 160,000 transactions per second (TPS), which is much faster than many other blockchains like Bitcoin (7 TPS) or Ethereum (15-40 TPS).
Aptos works by using a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system combined with a special consensus method called AptosBFT. The blockchain also uses a modular design, meaning it can be updated easily without shutting down.
What is Aptos Labs?
Aptos Labs is the company behind the Aptos blockchain, founded by Mo Shaikh and Avery Ching in 2021. Both founders formerly worked at Meta on the Diem blockchain project, which Meta abandoned in January 2022. Aptos Labs took the technology and ideas from Diem to create Aptos.
The company raised significant funding, including $200 million in March 2022 led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), $150 million in July 2022 led by FTX Ventures and Jump Crypto, and additional funds in September 2022 from Binance Labs, pushing its valuation to $4 billion.
How Does Aptos Work?
Move Programming Language
The Move Programming Language is a key part of Aptos, created originally for Meta’s Diem project. It is a Rust-based language that makes writing smart contracts safer and simpler. Move ensures resources, like digital coins, can’t be copied or lost by mistake; they can only be moved between accounts.
This reduces errors and hacking risks. The language also includes a tool called the Move Prover, which checks smart contracts for mistakes before they run.
Block-STM Technology
Block-STM Technology is the engine that powers Aptos’s ability to process over 160,000 TPS, as shown in tests by Aptos Labs. It stands for Block Software Transactional Memory.
This system runs transactions optimistically in parallel, meaning it processes many at once without waiting and checks them afterward. If a transaction fails, it gets re-run using smart memory tools to fix conflicts. This method uses all available computer power efficiently, making Aptos much faster than blockchains that process transactions one by one.
Data Model
The Data Model in Aptos organizes information so the blockchain runs smoothly. To track all accounts, it starts at 0 and increases with each transaction. Data is stored in a way that validators can access quickly, and resources are tied to specific accounts, keeping everything clear and secure.
Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) Consensus Protocol
The Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) Consensus Mechanism, specifically AptosBFT version 4, ensures Aptos stays secure even if some validators fail or act dishonestly. This system can handle up to one-third of validators being faulty, 33% of the network’s voting power, without breaking.
Parallel Transaction Execution Engine
The Parallel Transaction Execution Engine is what makes Aptos so fast, processing thousands of transactions at once instead of one after another. It runs transactions in batches, validates them later, and fixes any issues by re-running failed ones. This approach cuts wait times and boosts throughput, aiming for a future goal of 1 million TPS.
Aptos Ecosystem
The Aptos ecosystem is a growing network of projects built on the Aptos blockchain. Currently, there are 194 total projects built or integrated on the Aptos blockchain. Some of the top Aptos ecosystem eprojects are:
- Aries Markets is a leading decentralized finance (DeFi) project on Aptos. It offers a lending and borrowing platform where users can earn interest or borrow assets.
- Amnis Finance is another major DeFi player focusing on liquid staking. It allows users to stake APT tokens and receive stAPT, a liquid token they can use elsewhere while earning rewards.
- Thala Labs builds a DeFi “HyperApp” with features like a decentralized exchange (DEX) and stablecoin support.
- Cellana Finance is a decentralized exchange (DEX) with a focus on fast, low-cost trading.
- Pontem Network develops LiquidSwap, the first DEX and automated market maker (AMM) on Aptos.
Check out the complete list of Aptos ecosystem projects here.
The Aptos Crypto Token (APT)
The Aptos crypto token (APT) is the native cryptocurrency of the Aptos network. It powers the network by handling fees, staking, and governance. Currently, APT token ranks among the top #30 cryptocurrencies with a market cap of $3.59B, according to CMC data.
APT Tokenomics
APT tokenomics define how the token is distributed, unlocked, and used over time. The initial total supply of APT was 1 billion tokens at the mainnet launch. The token uses 8 decimal places, with the smallest unit called an Octa. The distribution splits into four groups:
| Category | Percentage of Initial Token Distribution | Initial Tokens |
| Community | 51.02% | 510,217,359.767 |
| Core Contributors | 19.00% | 190,000,000.000 |
| Foundation | 16.50% | 165,000,000.000 |
| Investors | 13.48% | 134,782,640.233 |
Aptos vs. Other Layer 1 Blockchains
| Feature | Aptos | Solana | Sui | Ethereum |
| Launch Date | October 12, 2022 | March 16, 2020 | May 3, 2023 | July 30, 2015 |
| Consensus | AptosBFT (PoS) | PoH + PoS | Narwhal-Tusk (PoS) | PoS (post-Merge) |
| Language | Move (Rust-based) | Rust, C | Move (modified) | Solidity |
| TPS | 160,000+ | 65,000 (up to 200k) | 297,000 | 15-40 (base layer) |
How is Aptos Used?
- Participate in protocol governance: You can stake APT tokens to vote on network upgrades and rules.
- Transfer value: APT tokens move fast and cheaply between accounts on the Aptos blockchain. People use this for payments, remittances, or sending funds globally, leveraging its high-speed design (160,000+ TPS). It’s a simple, efficient way to handle transactions.
- Stake APT: You can lock APT tokens to support network security and earn rewards. The Aptos White Paper states rewards start at 7% annually, dropping 1.5% yearly to a 3.25% floor. Over 82% of tokens were staked at launch, showing strong participation.
- Pay for transaction fees: APT covers the costs of executing smart contracts and processing data. This keeps the network operational, with fees burned now but potentially redistributed later via governance.
How to Store Aptos: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Choose a compatible wallet
You select a wallet that supports APT, such as Petra Wallet, the official Aptos wallet developed by Aptos Labs. It integrates with the Aptos blockchain, allowing secure storage and transactions, downloadable from petra.app or browser extensions like Chrome. Other options include Martian Wallet or Fewcha, but Petra is widely recommended for its reliability.
Step 2: Download and install the wallet
You visit petra.app, download the Petra Wallet extension for your browser (e.g., Chrome), and install it by following the prompts. After installation, open the extension and click “Create New Wallet” to start setup. The process takes a few minutes and ensures your wallet is ready to hold APT.
Step 3: Secure your wallet with a seed phrase
The wallet generates a 12-word seed phrase, which you write down and store offline in a safe place, like a paper note or metal backup. This phrase is your key to recovering your wallet if you lose access, so you never share it. Confirm the phrase in the app to activate your wallet.
Step 4: Fund your wallet with APT tokens
Now, buy Aptos from an exchange like Binance or MEXC, then withdraw it to your Petra Wallet address (a unique string starting with “0x”). In Petra, copy your address from the “Receive” section, paste it into the exchange’s withdrawal form, and send the tokens. Transactions are finalized in seconds due to Aptos’s speed.
Step 5: Verify and manage your APT
Check your Petra Wallet balance to confirm the APT arrived, typically within moments, thanks to Aptos’s sub-second finality. From here, you can stake, send, or hold your tokens securely, using Petra’s interface to monitor activity. Keep your seed phrase safe and never expose your private key online.
Conclusion
The Aptos blockchain is a promising contender in the Layer 1 space, combining speed, security, and scalability to propel Web3 forward. Its impressive 160,000+ TPS, Move programming language, and innovative Block-STM technology offer developers and users a robust platform for dApps, DeFi, and beyond. While competition from Solana and Ethereum looms, Aptos’s focus on accessibility and performance makes it a blockchain to watch in 2025 and beyond.
FAQs
How much is 1 Aptos in dollars?
1 Aptos (APT) is worth approximately $6.10 in U.S. dollars (at the time of writing), based on real-time data from CoinMarketCap.
What does Aptos software do?
Aptos software refers to the Aptos blockchain, a Layer 1 Proof-of-Stake network built by Aptos Labs, not a traditional standalone program. It uses the Move programming language, originally from Meta’s Diem project, to enable fast, secure, and scalable decentralized applications (dApps), targeting over 160,000 transactions per second.
Is Aptos better than Solana?
Aptos and Solana both aim for high-speed transactions, but comparing them depends on priorities, as each has its strengths. Aptos boasts over 160,000 TPS in tests with Move’s security-focused design, while Solana claims 65,000 TPS and has a more established ecosystem.
Solana’s Rust-based coding is widely adopted, but it’s had outages, unlike Aptos’s newer, untested stability since 2022. Neither is definitively “better”; Aptos offers potential in security and speed, while Solana leads in adoption and real-world use.
Is Aptos a Good Investment?
Aptos could be a good investment due to its strong tech – high TPS, secure Move language, and $350 million in funding from firms like a16z, per Aptos Foundation records – but it’s risky. Its market cap sits at $3.6 billion, with growth potential as a newer chain, yet crypto volatility and competition from Solana or Ethereum pose challenges.
What is Aptos’s (APT) Price Prediction?
Aptos’s (APT) price prediction varies widely due to market unpredictability. Some analysts suggest up to 100% growth in 2025. Its all-time high was $19.92, and analysts speculate it could climb if Web3 adoption grows.
Where can you buy Aptos?
You can buy Aptos (APT) on major cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, KuCoin, and MEXC.
