What is VeChain? (VET)

The Beginner’s Guide

VeChain is a blockchain protocol that seeks to incentivize a network of computers to operate a platform allowing businesses to build and run decentralized applications (dapps).

In this way, VeChain’s goal is to enable better digital collaboration between businesses by giving them new tools for efficient data transfer and supply-chain management.

Originally a solution for supply chain management alone, the VeChain protocol rebranded to VeChain Thor with the launch of the protocol’s mainnet in 2018, increasing the scope of dapps to include more general data solutions.

Corporations that have started using the VeChain blockchain include:

BMW, which uses VeChain to prevent odometer fraud in automobile sales
LVMH, which uses VeChain to track luxury leather goods
Walmart, which uses VeChain to track food provenance.

Central to running the operations on its blockchain, VeChain boasts two native cryptocurrencies, VET coin, for voting on changes to the protocol, and VTHOR, for executing transactions.

Users seeking to stay connected on the current development status of VeChain, along with the companies that are integrating its blockchain, can follow its official blog for up-to-date details.

what is vechain vet

Who Created VeChain?

VeChain was co-founded in 2015 by Sunny Lu, former chief information officer of Louis Vuitton China, and Jay Zhang.

The VeChain team initially distributed its cryptocurrency, VEN, on the Ethereum blockchain in 2017 as part of a crowdsale that sold 1 billion tokens and raised $20 million.

These tokens were later replaced by VET tokens (sometimes referred to as VET coins) when the VeChainThor blockchain was launched. VEN tokens were swapped for VET tokens at a 1:100 ratio.

How Does VeChain Work?

VeChain aims to give any company the ability to launch new kinds of dapps.

In order to facilitate the creation of dapps, the VeChain team built a component called the VeChain ToolChain, a software development kit.

Proof of Authority

To regulate the process in which transactions between users are verified and added to VeChain’s public ledger, VeChain Thor uses a consensus mechanism known as proof of authority (PoA).

Users who verify and add transactions to the blockchain are known as Authority Masternodes, and, to become one, users must stake a minimum of 25 million VET and submit identifying information to the VeChain Foundation.

While using a PoA mechanism helps process large transaction volumes rapidly, the disadvantage of its approach is that it relies on a central authority to check and authorize users who can take part in processing transactions.

Of note, VeChain is working to improve its PoA to ensure a more randomized and distributed block creating mechanism.

Two Token Design

In order for the protocol to work, VeChain uses two native tokens, VET, used to store and transfer value, and VTHO, used for transactions on its blockchain.

This design is intended to isolate the price volatility of VET coin from the cost of computations on the network, allowing applications on VeChain to charge stable fees (since the VTHOR supply can be adjusted to maintain a stable price for transactions).

Similar to how the Ethereum blockchain uses ETH and gas, miners earn VTHO fees for computations processed by the network. The more complex the computation, the more VTHO a given program will require.

Lastly, nodes staking VET coins gain the ability to vote on network upgrades, and are rewarded with VTHO every block.

Why Does Vet Crypto Have Value?

VET is the main cryptocurrency powering VeChain and can be used for holding, spending, sending or staking.

Further, applications built on VeChain will need VTHOR to pay for transactions. If applications are popular, demand for VTHOR should rise which can lead to increased demand for VET coins, thus increasing its value.

Additionally, users have reason to hold and stake VET tokens since it gives them the ability to vote on changes to the VeChain network, including increasing or decreasing the VTHOR supply.

Like many other cryptocurrencies, the supply of VET tokens is limited, meaning that there will only ever be 86.7 billion VET.

Why Should I Use VeChain?

Users may find VeChain appealing based on its ability for businesses to build applications for supply chain management and for building anti-counterfeit measures in products.

Businesses should also look to use VeChain to benefit from stable transaction fees thanks to its duel token design. Investors may seek to add VET coins to their portfolio should they believe the market will one day favor enterprise blockchains.