Aptos
Layer 1 blockchain using the Move language and AptosBFT consensus, with APT as native token.
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Aptos key facts
| Category | Layer 1 blockchain |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Mainnet, RPC |
| Token | APT |
| Open source | Yes (aptos-core) |
| Fees | Gas priced in Octas (1 APT = 10^8 Octas) and burned; storage fee refunded in full when the slot is deleted |
What is Aptos?
Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain that runs smart contracts in the Move language. Consensus uses AptosBFT, which is based on Jolteon. Gas is priced in Octas, where 1 APT equals 10^8 Octas, and storage fees are refunded in full when a storage slot is freed.
How Aptos works
A transaction enters a node's mempool, which checks signatures, balances and replay protection.
Quorum Store then spreads certified batches of transactions across validators, and the consensus leader proposes a block that orders those batches instead of raw transactions. Validators execute the block in the Move virtual machine, vote on the result under AptosBFT, and commit it to storage. The protocol tolerates up to one third of validators acting maliciously, and fullnodes re-execute history so they can flag any attempt to rewrite it.
Anyone can join the validator set by staking between 1 million and 50 million APT; stake above the maximum earns nothing extra. Stake locks for a recurring 14-day period that renews automatically, and rewards are paid every epoch, scaled by the share of a validator's proposals that succeeded. The staking module separates owner, operator and voter roles, so a custodian can hold funds while a node operator runs the validator. Slashing is not implemented, per the staking docs.
Accounts are 32-byte addresses with key rotation and native k-of-n multisig using Ed25519 and Secp256k1 keys, plus Keyless and WebAuthn signers. With Stateless Accounts (AIP-115), any valid address can send a transaction without being registered onchain first, so a new user can submit a sponsored transaction from a fresh address.
How to start with Aptos
- A wallet or the Aptos SDK generates your key pair and derives your address from it; human-readable .apt names are available through the Aptos Name Service.
- To earn rewards without running a node, you delegate to a delegation pool: the minimum is 10 APT plus a small add-stake fee that is mostly refunded as rewards at the end of the epoch, and some interfaces show 11 APT as a round figure.
- Delegators can add, unlock, reactivate and withdraw stake, and earn rewards minus the operator's commission.
Aptos fees and limits
Every transaction pays two parts. Execution and IO gas is measured in gas units priced in Octas (1 APT is 10^8 Octas); the gas unit price moves with demand above a minimum set by governance, and this portion is burned. Storage fees are priced in fixed APT amounts, so the cost of permanent storage does not move with network load, and the full fee is refunded when the storage slot is deleted. Each transaction emits a FeeStatement event with the execution, IO, storage and refund breakdown.
Risks to know before using Aptos
- Delegation pools are permissionless, and a pool earns no rewards until it is active, which takes the 1 million APT validator minimum, so check a pool's status before you delegate.
- Unlocked stake becomes withdrawable only when the current lockup expires, up to 14 days on mainnet.
- A delegation pool cannot be converted into a stake pool or back.
- Since slashing is not implemented, the main cost of a poorly run validator is lower rewards from failed proposals.
Aptos alternatives
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Where Aptos ranks on DappAtlas
Listed next to Aptos
Aptos pros and cons
- Storage fee is refunded in full when a slot is deleted
- Consensus is AptosBFT, based on Jolteon
- Source code is public on GitHub under aptos-labs/aptos-core
- Move language means Solidity contracts must be rewritten
- Gas and storage fees are billed separately
- Storage refunds are paid in APT and not counted in gas_used, which complicates fee accounting
Aptos FAQ
What is Aptos?
Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain that runs smart contracts in the Move language. Consensus uses AptosBFT, which is based on Jolteon. Gas is priced in Octas, where 1 APT equals 10^8 Octas, and storage fees are refunded in full when a storage slot is freed.
How much does Aptos cost?
Gas priced in Octas (1 APT = 10^8 Octas) and burned; storage fee refunded in full when the slot is deleted, according to Aptos’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
Sources
How this page works
Sources: Aptos: official site, Aptos: Glossary, Aptos: aptos-core GitHub repository. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.