$AZTEC Token Overview
The $AZTEC token is the native token of the Aztec network. It serves multiple essential functions that keep the network secure and operational.
Token Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Token Name | Aztec |
| Ticker | AZTEC |
| Standard | ERC-20 (Ethereum) |
| Contract Address | 0xA27EC0006e59f245217Ff08CD52A7E8b169E62D2 |
| Decimals | 18 |
| Total Supply | 10,350,000,000 AZTEC |
Please verify the contract address and other specifications with official Aztec sources before interacting with the token.
Token Utility
The $AZTEC token has three primary uses:
1. Transaction Fees
All transactions on Aztec require fees paid in $AZTEC. This includes:
- Sending private transactions
- Interacting with smart contracts
- Deploying new contracts
2. Staking
Sequencers and validators must stake $AZTEC to participate in block production:
- Provides economic security for the network
- Creates incentives for honest behavior
- Enables slashing for malicious actions
3. Governance
$AZTEC holders can participate in protocol governance:
- Vote on protocol upgrades
- Influence network parameters
- Shape the future of Aztec
Tokenomics
Supply
The $AZTEC token has a fixed initial supply with a controlled inflation mechanism to fund network rewards.
Inflation Rate
The protocol has a nominal annual inflation rate defined in the CoinIssuer contract. This rate:
- Funds rewards for sequencers and provers
- Is capped and cannot be changed after deployment
- Represents the maximum possible inflation (actual may be lower)
Token Distribution
Checkpoint rewards are distributed each slot:
- 70% to block proposers (sequencers)
- 30% to provers
See Economics & Rewards for detailed information on how rewards work.
How to Participate
As a token holder, you have several options:
| Action | What It Does | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Stake | Secure the network, earn rewards | Meet minimum stake threshold |
| Delegate | Earn rewards without running infrastructure | Choose an operator to delegate to |
| Vote | Participate in governance | Hold staked or governance-locked tokens |
Understanding the Risks
Before staking or participating, understand:
- Slashing - Validators can lose stake for misbehavior
- Lock-up periods - Unstaking requires waiting through exit delays
- Market risk - Token value can fluctuate
See Staking for details on staking requirements and risks.
If you're interested in operating a node, sequencer, or prover, see the Operator Guides.