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What is Sei?
What is Sei?

What Is Sei?

Key Takeaways

  • Lightning-Fast Speed: Learn about its Twin-Turbo consensus, which finalizes transactions in under 400ms, making it one of the fastest chains in existence.

  • EVM-Compatible Powerhouse: Supports Ethereum-based smart contracts through a parallelized EVM, allowing for faster and cheaper dApps.

  • Incredible Throughput: Engineered to handle up to 100 MegaGas per second, ready for real-world scale.

  • Vibrant and Live Ecosystem: Home to a growing number of DeFi, NFT, and GameFi applications like Yei, Dragonswap, Archer Hunter

Sei is a specialized, high-performance Layer 1 blockchain built for next-generation decentralized applications (dApps). If you want to learn about blockchain speed, Sei offers near-instant transaction finality (~400ms), a, and an innovative parallelized EVM architecture. This provides developers a superior environment for building dApps that are both scalable and efficient, without sacrificing security or decentralization.

The project is backed by a roster of top-tier investors, including Multicoin, Circle Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and Jump Crypto and has built one of the largest userbases in crypto according to dAppradar.

How Does the Sei Blockchain Work?

To truly learn about Sei, you need to understand its core innovations. It's not just another general-purpose blockchain; its architecture is purpose-built for speed, cost, and exchange efficiency.


1. Twin-Turbo Consensus


Sei’s Twin-Turbo consensus is a powerful evolution of the Tendermint consensus used by Cosmos. While a standard Tendermint block takes around 6 seconds to finalize, Sei achieves finality in less than 400 milliseconds. Think of it like an assembly line:

  • Optimistic Block Processing: Instead of waiting for every single check to be completed before passing a product down the line, Sei starts working on the next step immediately. Validators begin processing blocks and propagating them before the full validation vote is complete, drastically cutting down wait times.

  • Intelligent Block Propagation: To save time and resources, validators initially only share proposals containing transaction hashes. The full transaction data is sent later, reducing the amount of data clogging the network.

  • Parallel Execution: This is Sei’s superpower. It can process transactions that don't affect the same state simultaneously, like having multiple cashiers serving different customers at once instead of a single queue.

2. Parallelized EVM (Sei V2)

Most blockchains, including Ethereum, use a single-threaded EVM, meaning transactions are processed one by one. Sei V2 introduced a Parallelized EVM. This allows the network to process multiple smart contracts at the same time, leading to:

  • Lower Latency & Cheaper Fees: By handling tasks in parallel, the network reduces congestion, resulting in faster confirmation times and lower gas fees for users.

  • Greater Scalability: This architecture makes it possible to service applications with millions of users without effecting prices or transaction speed

  • Full EVM Compatibility: Developers can fully use Ethereum's EVM (for Solidity contracts), giving them the flexibility to build with the tools they know best while accessing superior performance. This also means Sei is compatible with popular token standards like ERC-20 and ERC-721.

What Is the SEI Token Used For?

The native token of the network is SEI. If you want to learn how to use the Sei network, understanding its token is essential. SEI serves several critical functions:

Use Case Description
Transaction Fees Pay for gas fees to execute transactions and smart contracts on the network.
Staking Secure the network by delegating your SEI to a validator or running your own validator node to earn rewards.
Governance Participate in the future of the network by voting on protocol upgrades and governance proposals.
Collateral Use SEI as a native asset and collateral within various DeFi applications built on the Sei ecosystem.
Fee Markets Tip validators to have your transactions prioritized during periods of high demand.
Trading Fees Utilize SEI as a primary trading pair on decentralized exchanges and marketplaces within the Sei ecosystem.

SEI Tokenomics

  • Sei Market Cap: ~$1.8 Billion
  • Sei Total Supply: 10 Billion SEI
  • Sei Circulating Supply: 5.8 Billion SEI
  • Allocation Breakdown:

    • 48% – Ecosystem Reserve: The largest portion, dedicated to funding community growth, airdrops, staking rewards, and grants for new projects.

    • 20% – Private Investors: Allocated to early backers of the project.

    • 20% – Core Team: Reserved for the founding team and contributors.

    • 9% – Sei Foundation Treasury: Funds for the ongoing operations and development of the Sei Foundation.

    • 3% – Launchpool: Used for initial distribution on crypto exchanges.

    Top dApps in the Sei Ecosystem

    Sei's speed and unique architecture have attracted a diverse range of developers. Here are some of the top projects to explore:

    • Yei finance: A flexible, blockchain-powered network offering next-gen financial solutions. Users can deposit assets to earn passive income, borrow through both overcollateralized and flash loan options, and access robust tools to manage risk. Supporting a wide range of assets—from LRTs and LSTs to major tokens—Yei combines security, transparency, and adaptability to empower investors seeking smarter strategies in DeFi
    • DragonSwap: An automated market maker (AMM) based DEX that has already processed millions of swaps and over $2 billion in trading volume, demonstrating the network's high throughput capabilities.
    • Archer Hunter: A fast-paced Web3 RPG where you fight through waves of monsters, unlock powerful skills, and rise from rookie to master archer. Published by Nika Labs and powered by SEI Network, it’s one of the first blockchain games with its own proprietary IP. With millions of downloads, a free-to-play model, and smooth onboarding for Web2 gamers, Archer Hunter delivers high-intensity gameplay and true digital ownership—all in one.


    Why Sei Stands out: A comparison

    Performance Comparison: Sei vs Solana vs Ethereum

    Blockchain Block Time TPS Consensus
    Sei 400ms 12,500 Twin-Turbo
    Ethereum 12s 15 Proof of Stake
    Solana 400ms 3,000 Proof of History

    Final Thoughts

    Sei is more than just another fast blockchain, it is a meticulously engineered platform designed to solve the core problems that have plagued decentralized trading for years. By focusing on speed, efficiency, and providing developers with unique tools like a parallelized EVM environment, Sei is positioning itself as the foundational layer for the next generation of DeFi, NFTs, and high-performance dApps.

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