Performances
RD Popularity Index
RD Growth Index
| 1h | 24h | 7d | 30d | 60d | 90d |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.53% | 2.77% | 6.60% | 25.47% | 39.28% | 5.36% |
Comparison
Open Markets
| # | Exchange | Pair | Price | +2% depth | -2% depth | Volume (24h) | volume % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UUpbitCEX | ARK/KRW | $0.255 | $40,306 | $32,650 | $952,305 | 113.75% |
| 2 | BBingXCEX | ARK/USDT | $0.2539 | $11,595 | $17,864 | $52,117 | 6.23% |
| 3 | BBitgetCEX | ARK/USDT | $0.2541 | $7,486 | $10,791 | $14,986 | 1.79% |
| 4 | UUpbit Indonesia CEX | ARK/BTC | $0.2625 | $0 | $0 | $131 | 0.02% |
| 5 | UUpbitCEX | ARK/BTC | $0.2618 | $0 | $0 | $131 | 0.02% |
| 6 | ARK/USD | $0.2542 | $11,514 | $13,480 | $3 | 0.00% |
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About Ark
Ark is a Layer 1 project started in 2016 whose public mainnet went live in March 2017, rewriting the node stack in TypeScript, producing blocks through delegated proof of stake and maintained by 51 validators. It deliberately plays down general-purpose smart contracts in favour of a Generic Transaction Interface that lets developers define custom transaction types in TypeScript, writing multi-payment, multisignature and IPFS hash logic into the protocol layer and lowering deployment complexity. The companion ARK Launcher offers a graphical interface for generating customisable standalone chains that reuse the same consensus, peer-to-peer and API code. The network has produced more than 37 million blocks, processed over 5 million transactions and created about 206,000 addresses, with tooling spanning the ARK Vault web wallet, the ARK Scan explorer and the ARK Connect browser extension. It is distinct from the same-named Bitcoin layer-2 protocol advanced by Ark Labs.
On 19 August 2026, ARK Core v3.13.0 shipped, retiring Magistrate transaction types with the change active at a block height on 25 August. A 25 September update tightened block proposal checks, moved timestamp verification earlier and synchronised dependencies across the three front-end tools. The next-generation core, codenamed Mainsail, swaps in a Tendermint-inspired Byzantine fault tolerant consensus engine, reworks finality guarantees, transaction processing and the peer-to-peer layer, and adds an EVM compatibility layer aligned with the Ethereum Osaka specification. On 20 October 2026, ARK Vault released v1.20.2, fixing fiat value display so transactions use the exchange rate of their transaction date.
ARK is a modular Layer 1 blockchain platform founded in 2017 with the vision of simplifying blockchain development and enabling cross-chain interoperability. Its core innovations include the DPoS consensus mechanism and SmartBridge technology, which allows data and value exchange across different chains. The network, built on ARK Core, is secured by 51 validator nodes and has produced over 36 million blocks, processed more than 5 million transactions, and created over 205,000 unique wallet addresses. In 2025, ARK focused on refining its underlying mechanisms and formed strategic partnerships with protocols like Lido to strengthen its consensus layer and treasury. At Consensus Hong Kong 2026, ARK announced a major strategic shift toward becoming an infrastructure provider and rule-setter for the AI economy. Key initiatives include the AI 402 protocol, designed to become a universal standard for machine-to-machine payments and AI agent collaboration; integration with global payment networks to enable fiat spending of crypto assets; and the public beta of Arkie AI, an AI assistant aimed at bridging the information gap in Web3. ARK also introduced a self-sustaining economic model where revenue from Arkie AI covers computing costs, creating a closed loop of usage and infrastructure development. These moves mark ARK's transition from a DeFAI application to a foundational layer for the AI-driven digital economy.
Key developments: A September 24 development update detailed progress on the Mainsail upgrade, introducing RANDAO validator selection and an EVM aligned with Ethereum's Osaka spec, with a public testnet scheduled for mid-October. On September 30 ARK broke out of its downtrend dating to February, gaining 20.33% in a day to $0.2963.
ARK is a modular Layer 1 founded in 2016 and launched in March 2017, written in TypeScript, using delegated proof of stake with 51 forging delegates, long differentiated by its Bridgechain and ARK Launcher tooling for spinning up chains, with the full supply in circulation and a market value of roughly USD 32 to 33 million.
From 2025 into 2026 the main thread has been migrating the legacy chain onto the new Mainsail architecture. The Mainsail EVM public testnet opened on 29 July 2025 with two-phase BFT consensus, instant finality and on-chain usernames; a testnet release candidate followed on 1 December; Core 3.11.0 in May 2026 paved the way; Core 3.13.0 shipped on 21 August, disabling legacy Magistrate transactions from mainnet height 36,937,100; on 24 September the team detailed RANDAO validator selection and an EVM aligned with Ethereum's Osaka specification, planned a testnet reset with a new genesis block for mid-October, and confirmed the mainnet migration has not happened. Official figures cite over 37 million blocks, more than 5 million transactions and over 206,000 wallets.
Strategy and roadmap: ARK bets on demand for modular, compliance-customisable chain deployment, packaging consensus, EVM and account abstraction into Mainsail so institutions and local projects can launch chains cheaply. The problem is that this path has sat on testnet since it was proposed in 2023, slipping repeatedly, and it lacks ecosystem subsidies when competing head-on with Ethereum-aligned EVM chains. Liquidity is thin and concentrated, with about USD 2.1 million in 24-hour volume of which roughly half sits on a single exchange, so any further migration delay erodes holder patience further.
François-Xavier Thoorens — Co-founder; former Lisk core developer; started ARK in 2016 and stepped down as CEO in mid-2021 (departed).
Mike Doty — Co-founder & Managing Director; oversees ecosystem operations and helped incorporate ARK as a SCIC in France.
Lars Rensing — Co-founder & CFO; responsible for finance and compliance.