What is Harmony Coin?

Harmony is a Layer 1 blockchain that supports smart contracts, leveraging sharding and fast finality to enhance throughput and reduce transaction fees. It is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing developers to seamlessly migrate or deploy decentralized applications. ONE is the native token of Harmony, used for paying on-chain gas fees, staking for consensus participation, and governance. Harmony is well-suited for use cases in decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and gaming, and enables interaction with other networks through cross-chain bridges.
Abstract
1.
Positioning: Harmony is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain designed to achieve scalability and low-cost transactions through sharding technology, supporting DeFi, NFT, and other application scenarios.
2.
Mechanism: Harmony uses Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism with dynamic sharding technology that divides the network into multiple shards for parallel transaction processing. Validators stake ONE tokens to participate in consensus and block production, ensuring network security and decentralization.
3.
Supply: Harmony has a total supply of 1.26 billion ONE tokens, with initial supply of 626 million and remaining tokens released through block rewards. The network uses inflation to incentivize validators, with inflation rates gradually decreasing over time.
4.
Cost & Speed: Fast transaction speed with confirmation time around 2 seconds; extremely low fees typically under 0.001 ONE, offering significant cost advantages compared to mainstream blockchains like Ethereum, suitable for frequent transactions and small transfers.
5.
Ecosystem Highlights: Main wallets include EVM-compatible wallets like MetaMask and Trust Wallet; representative applications include DeFi protocols (such as SushiSwap, Aave deployments) and NFT marketplaces (such as Davinci Gallery); Horizon cross-chain bridge connects Ethereum, BSC, and other ecosystems for expanded functionality.
6.
Risk Warning: Significant price volatility risk; as a relatively smaller blockchain project, liquidity and market recognition are lower than Bitcoin or Ethereum; technical risks include potential security issues from complex sharding mechanisms; limited ecosystem applications with limited network effects; regulatory policy changes may impact project development.
What is Harmony Coin?

What Is Harmony (ONE)?

Harmony (ONE) is the native token of the Harmony blockchain, a Layer 1 public chain designed for decentralized applications (dApps). Harmony stands out for its high throughput, low transaction fees, and rapid finality. As an EVM-compatible chain (Ethereum Virtual Machine), it enables seamless migration of Ethereum contracts and developer tools to the Harmony network. The ONE token is used for paying gas fees, staking to participate in network consensus, and on-chain governance voting.

What Are the Current Price, Market Cap, and Circulating Supply of Harmony (ONE)?

As of 2026-01-26, public data sources indicate that Harmony (ONE) is a mid-to-small-cap blockchain asset. Its price fluctuates with the overall crypto market cycle, and its 24-hour trading volume sits at a moderate level compared to major blockchains. Market cap is calculated as: Market Cap = Price × Circulating Supply, where circulating supply refers to the amount of ONE freely tradable on the market.

Sources: CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap’s Harmony pages, as well as the Harmony blockchain explorer (as of 2026-01-26). Prices and trading volumes are constantly updated; it is recommended to refer to Gate spot market data for real-time prices and cross-reference with the above sources.

To assess ONE’s market metrics, you can first check its latest price and trading volume on Gate, then verify market cap and circulating supply on CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap, and finally use the Harmony explorer to monitor total supply changes and on-chain activity for a comprehensive overview.

Who Created Harmony (ONE) and When?

Harmony was initiated by Stephen Tse and his team in 2018. The mainnet went live in 2019, aiming to enhance blockchain performance through sharding and fast finality while remaining Ethereum-compatible. Early on, Harmony attracted developers and projects via foundation grants and ecosystem incentives, later gaining traction in DeFi and NFT sectors.

References: Harmony official blog, documentation, project interviews, and excerpts from the technical whitepaper (as of 2026-01).

How Does Harmony (ONE) Work?

Harmony combines sharding and Proof of Stake (PoS) to optimize network performance. Sharding divides the network into multiple parallel units—shards—allowing transactions and contract executions to be processed simultaneously across shards, thus boosting throughput. In PoS, validators are selected based on their staked tokens to propose and validate blocks, earning rewards proportionate to their contributions.

Harmony utilizes a fast Byzantine Fault Tolerance consensus mechanism (FBFT), enabling transactions to achieve “finality”—an irreversible state—more quickly after network agreement. With full EVM compatibility, developers can deploy smart contracts using Solidity and users can interact via familiar wallets and tools.

What Can You Do With Harmony (ONE)?

  • Pay Transaction Fees: Use ONE to pay gas fees when transferring tokens or executing smart contracts on Harmony.
  • Participate in Staking and Governance: Holders can stake ONE with validator nodes to support network security and earn block rewards. ONE also serves as a governance token for voting on protocol proposals that shape network parameters and ecosystem direction.
  • Access DeFi and NFT Applications: Use ONE or other tokens in decentralized exchanges, lending platforms, NFT minting, trading, and more within the Harmony ecosystem—enjoying lower fees and faster confirmations.
  • Cross-Chain Interactions: Transfer assets between Harmony and other networks via cross-chain bridges or protocols, enabling broader application scenarios (note: always consider bridge security and associated costs).

What Wallets and Scaling Solutions Exist in the Harmony (ONE) Ecosystem?

Thanks to EVM compatibility, popular Ethereum wallets like MetaMask can connect to Harmony by configuring custom network parameters. The official Harmony explorer provides account, transaction, and contract queries; staking dashboards show validator stats, delegations, and reward data.

For scaling, Harmony uses sharding for capacity expansion and fast finality to reduce congestion risks. Cross-chain bridges facilitate interoperability with other networks, though bridge security requires special attention. Developers benefit from EVM toolchains, node services, and SDKs for deployment and monitoring.

Tip: When configuring wallets, always verify the correct network ID and RPC address to avoid phishing nodes. Double-check contract addresses and permissions before signing or authorizing transactions.

What Are the Main Risks and Regulatory Considerations for Harmony (ONE)?

  • Market Risk: ONE’s price is influenced by overall crypto market sentiment and liquidity; volatility can be significant—allocate funds according to your risk tolerance.
  • Technical & Contract Risk: Smart contracts may have vulnerabilities; cross-chain bridges are historically prone to attacks—always review and test with small amounts before using new bridges or contracts.
  • Network & Governance Risks: Validator centralization, inter-shard communication complexities, and consensus implementation details can impact network resilience. Major governance changes may affect token economics or user experience.
  • Compliance & Regulation: Regulatory requirements for crypto assets vary by jurisdiction. Before trading or staking, understand local AML, tax, and investment compliance rules. Complete all required KYC/AML steps on Gate.
  • Account & Key Security: Enable two-factor authentication and anti-phishing settings for exchange accounts. Securely back up wallet seed phrases and private keys offline; loss or leakage means irreversible asset loss.

How Can I Buy and Securely Store Harmony (ONE) on Gate?

Step 1: Register & Verify
Create an account on Gate’s website or app; complete identity verification and enable security features like two-factor authentication.

Step 2: Deposit or Buy Stablecoins
Fund your account with crypto deposits or purchase stablecoins like USDT via fiat gateways in preparation for trading ONE.

Step 3: Find Trading Pairs
Search for “ONE” in Gate’s spot market section; choose pairs such as ONE/USDT. Review the order book and charts to confirm price range and liquidity.

Step 4: Place an Order
Select a market or limit order as needed; enter your desired buy amount and submit. Once filled, check your holdings on the funds page. For dollar-cost averaging, consider splitting your purchases across multiple orders.

Step 5: Secure Storage
For short-term holding, you may keep ONE on Gate with enhanced account security. For long-term storage, transfer funds to a self-custodial wallet (e.g., EVM wallet configured for Harmony), back up your seed phrase securely offline, set strong passwords, and test small withdrawals before transferring larger sums.

How Does Harmony (ONE) Differ From Polygon (MATIC)?

  • Layer Classification: Harmony is a Layer 1 blockchain handling transactions/contracts directly on its mainnet. Polygon positions itself as a “multi-chain scaling platform,” offering PoS sidechains and Layer 2 solutions (like zero-knowledge rollups), primarily focused on Ethereum scaling.
  • Scaling Approach: Harmony relies on sharding plus fast finality for throughput; Polygon combines low-fee PoS chains with ZK technologies for higher security and scalability.
  • Ecosystem Size & Integration: Both are EVM-compatible, but Polygon has broader adoption in terms of funding, developer community, and deployed apps. Harmony’s ecosystem has seen periods of activity but depends on ongoing security and market factors.
  • Security & Bridge Risks: Cross-chain bridges have historically been attack targets; always use official/audited bridges when moving assets between networks—transfer in batches and monitor receipts.
  • Token Utility & Fees: ONE is used for gas fees, staking, and governance on Harmony; MATIC serves similar roles on Polygon. Both offer low transaction costs but actual fees depend on network load and protocol settings.

Summary of Harmony (ONE)

Harmony (ONE) is an EVM-compatible sharded blockchain prioritizing fast finality and low transaction costs—ideal for DeFi, NFT projects, gaming applications, and more. To track price data, consult Gate for real-time quotes alongside CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap, and the Harmony explorer for cross-verification of market cap, circulating supply, and on-chain metrics. ONE powers transaction fees, staking rewards, and governance within its ecosystem; users can participate by following standard wallet configuration and security best practices.

When investing or using ONE, pay close attention to bridge/contract security risks, price volatility, and local regulatory compliance. Follow secure processes for buying—registration, funding, trading, storage—and consider self-custody with strict key management for long-term holding. Continue monitoring Harmony’s technical roadmap and ecosystem growth before making allocation decisions.

FAQ

What Consensus Mechanism Does Harmony Use to Secure Its Network?

Harmony implements Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) combined with Proof of Stake (PoS). Validators stake ONE tokens to join consensus; the system randomly rotates validators to produce blocks while penalizing malicious behavior. This approach ensures transaction finality while being more energy efficient than traditional Proof of Work (PoW).

How Does Sharding Technology Work in the Harmony Network?

Harmony employs state sharding with a beacon chain architecture—splitting the network into multiple shards that process transactions in parallel for higher throughput. The beacon chain coordinates cross-shard transactions to ensure data consistency. This design allows Harmony to achieve thousands of TPS while maintaining decentralization.

What Are the Actual Use Cases of ONE Tokens Within the Harmony Ecosystem?

ONE tokens serve multiple purposes: paying network transaction fees; staking to participate as validators for mining rewards; acting as a governance token for proposal voting; being used in DeFi protocols as liquidity mining incentives or collateral for lending. These multi-dimensional utilities underpin Harmony’s healthy ecosystem operation.

What Are the Requirements to Participate in Staking on Harmony?

There are two ways to stake:

  • Becoming a validator requires staking at least 1 million ONE tokens plus operating a node (technical expertise needed).
  • Delegated staking lets regular users participate with as little as 1 ONE by delegating stake to validators.
    Gate also offers staking products with automated reward distribution—ideal for beginners. It’s recommended to start with delegation before considering validator operations.

What Competitive Advantages Does Harmony Have Over Other Layer 1 Blockchains?

Harmony’s core strengths are high throughput (thousands of TPS) and low latency enabled by sharding technology. Compared to Solana’s monolithic architecture, sharding offers greater decentralization; compared to Cosmos’s multi-chain model, Harmony delivers stronger atomicity across shards. The relatively affordable price of ONE makes it a cost-effective entry into Layer 1 ecosystems with ongoing development.

  • Sharding Technology: Divides the blockchain network into multiple sub-networks that process transactions in parallel to increase throughput and speed.
  • Cross-Chain Bridging: Protocols that connect different blockchain networks for seamless asset/data transfers across chains.
  • Proof of Stake (PoS): A consensus mechanism where staked crypto assets validate transactions—efficient and energy-saving.
  • Smart Contracts: Self-executing code that automates transactions once preset conditions are met—no third-party intervention required.
  • Gas Fees: Transaction or contract execution fees paid by users on the Harmony network.
  • DeFi Ecosystem: Decentralized finance applications built on Harmony—including lending platforms, DEXs, liquidity mining programs, etc.

Further Reading & References on Harmony (ONE)

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Related Glossaries
Degen
Extreme speculators are short-term participants in the crypto market characterized by high-speed trading, heavy position sizes, and amplified risk-reward profiles. They rely on trending topics and narrative shifts on social media, preferring highly volatile assets such as memecoins, NFTs, and anticipated airdrops. Leverage and derivatives are commonly used tools among this group. Most active during bull markets, they often face significant drawdowns and forced liquidations due to weak risk management practices.
epoch
In Web3, a cycle refers to a recurring operational window within blockchain protocols or applications that is triggered by fixed time intervals or block counts. At the protocol level, these cycles often take the form of epochs, which coordinate consensus, validator duties, and reward distribution. Other cycles appear at the asset and application layers, such as Bitcoin halving events, token vesting schedules, Layer 2 withdrawal challenge periods, funding rate and yield settlements, oracle updates, and governance voting windows. Because each cycle differs in duration, triggering conditions, and flexibility, understanding how they operate helps users anticipate liquidity constraints, time transactions more effectively, and identify potential risk boundaries in advance.
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Define Nonce
A nonce is a one-time-use number that ensures the uniqueness of operations and prevents replay attacks with old messages. In blockchain, an account’s nonce determines the order of transactions. In Bitcoin mining, the nonce is used to find a hash that meets the required difficulty. For login signatures, the nonce acts as a challenge value to enhance security. Nonces are fundamental across transactions, mining, and authentication processes.
Centralized
Centralization refers to an operational model where resources and decision-making power are concentrated within a small group of organizations or platforms. In the crypto industry, centralization is commonly seen in exchange custody, stablecoin issuance, node operation, and cross-chain bridge permissions. While centralization can enhance efficiency and user experience, it also introduces risks such as single points of failure, censorship, and insufficient transparency. Understanding the meaning of centralization is essential for choosing between CEX and DEX, evaluating project architectures, and developing effective risk management strategies.

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