Key Concepts
Summary of benefits, features, and data behind the Celo platform.
The Platform for Mobile DeFi
The Celo protocol provides a platform upon which the Celo community can create stabilized value digital assets. Named for the currencies they follow, Celo Dollars (cUSD) and Celo Euros (cEUR) are stablecoins that allow anyone to share value faster, cheaper and more easily from a mobile phone.
The Celo protocol also includes mechanisms for lightweight identity.
Innovative tools to build native mobile dApps:
- Stable Value Currencies
- Phone Number Public Key Infrastructure
- On-chain Governance
- Self Custody
- Proof-of-Stake
- Open-source
- Permissionless
- Gas Payable in Multiple Stablecoins
- Programmable (full EVM Compatibility)
Optimized for Financial Applications
Powered by Celo’s industry-leading decentralized phone number verification, payment applications built on Celo allow users to easily send or request digital currencies from any mobile number, anywhere in the world, capable of offering their users features like:
- Non-custodial wallets
- Ultra low network transaction fees
- Digital currency exchange capabilities
- QR Code Support
- Mobile first SDK
Core Contracts
Designed to support an ecology of stable value currencies. The first Mento stablecoin, cUSD, tracks the value of the US Dollar.
- Algorithmic reserve-backed stabilization mechanism
- Crypto-asset collateralized
- Native support for multiple stablecoins
Blockchain
Open source permissionless smart contract platform built on decentralized infrastructure.
- Proof-of-Stake based consensus with high throughput, low latency, and zero carbon
- Incentives for serving mobile devices
- On-chain governance
Build on Celo
Visit celo.org to learn more.
Details
Celo is a mobile-first, carbon-neutral blockchain that makes decentralized financial (DeFi) tools and services accessible to anyone with a mobile phone–bringing the powerful benefits of DeFi to the users of the 6 billion smartphones in circulation today.
**Stable Value Currencies **
Celo includes native support for multiple ERC20-like stable currencies pegged to ‘fiat’ currencies like the US dollar, to facilitate the use of Celo as a means of payment.
**Accounts Linked to Phone Numbers **
Celo maintains a secure decentralized mapping of phone numbers that allow wallet users to send and receive payments with their existing contacts simply and with confidence that the payment will reach the intended recipient.
**Transaction Fees in Any Currency **
Users can pay transaction fees in stable currencies so that they do not need to manage the balances of different currencies.
Proof-of-Stake
Celo uses a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm. In comparison to Proof-of-Work (PoW) systems like Bitcoin and Ethereum, this eliminates the negative environmental impact and means that users can make transactions that are cheaper, faster, and where the outcome cannot be changed once complete.
**On-chain Governance **
Since great user experiences and operating a modern networking protocol need iteration and improvement, Celo supports rapid upgrades and protocol changes via on-chain governance in which all CELO holders can participate.
**Programmable (Full EVM Compatibility **
Celo includes a programmable smart contract platform that is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which is already widely adopted, familiar to developers and has strong tool support. This enables Celo to deliver rich user features and rapidly support a wide ecosystem of third-party applications and extensions.
**Self Custody **
Users have access to and fully control their funds and account keys, and don't need to depend on third parties to make payments.
Metrics
Validators
110 Globally
Celo has a validator set with a current size of 110 validators. Validators are elected to this set on a daily basis; typically more validators stand for election than seats available. The validator set size may be raised in the future through the on-chain governance process.
Total Blocks
For real-time updates and information, please visit explorer.celo.org
Average Block Time
Celo's average blocktime is 5 seconds. For real-time updates and information, please visit https://explorer.celo.org/
Average User-Perceived Transaction Time Average Network Transaction (Gas) Fee
Transactions are interactions that occur between user addresses and Celo (e.g., transferring funds).
< $0.01 Average Network Transaction Fee
Circulating Supply
- CELO: Metric updated in real-time, please visit coinmarketcap.com/currencies/celo
- cUSD + cEUR + cREAL: Metrics updated in real-time, please visit celoreserve.org
For current circulating supply of cUSD and cEUR please see the section titled ‘outstanding supply’ and reference the top number in black.
3007.7 Tons of Carbon Offset
For real-time updates, please visit wren.co/profile/celo
Tons of carbon offset reflect Celo community purchases of carbon credits by way of funding the Community tree planting project with Wren.