NEO, formerly known as Antshares, is a blockchain platform and cryptocurrency designed to build a scalable network of decentralized applications. Launched in 2014, it is often referred to as the "Ethereum of China". NEO's main objective is to become the foundation for the next generation of the internet, where digitized payments, identities, and assets come together.
NEO was co-founded by Da Hongfei and Erik Zhang. Both serve as chairmen of the NEO Foundation, which promotes the blockchain's adoption. Erik Zhang, the author of the Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance algorithm, has played a significant role in the development of NEO 3.0, the next iteration of the project's infrastructure.
NEO has a total supply of 100 million tokens. These tokens were distributed on a 50/50 basis, with half going to participants in a token sale, and the other half being split among developers and the NEO Council. Unlike many other blockchains, NEO has two native tokens: NEO and GAS. NEO serves as an investment token and allows people to participate in votes concerning improvements to the blockchain, while GAS is used to pay fees for the transactions that are being completed on the network.
NEO can be purchased on several exchanges, including Binance, Poloniex, and HitBTC. However, it's worth noting that it isn't available universally and isn't supported by some platforms, such as Coinbase.
NEO is primarily used to develop decentralized applications. It also serves as an investment token and allows holders to participate in votes concerning improvements to the blockchain. GAS, the other native token of the NEO network, is used to pay fees for the transactions that are being completed on the network.
One of the most significant developments in the NEO ecosystem is the development of NEO 3.0. This upgrade aims to enhance network security and allow a greater number of transactions per second to be processed. In addition, the NEO team operates an EcoBoost initiative designed to encourage people to build decentralized apps and smart contracts on its blockchain. This initiative provides "full life-cycle support for high-potential projects", including grants, technical support, and promotion on social media.
NEO has been making significant strides in its technological development. The release of Neo-CLI v3.4.0, the latest version of the official N3 node client, has brought several bug fixes and new features to the platform. This includes additional token data to the TokenTracker plugin and a new native contract method. These updates require node operators to resync their nodes, indicating a significant step forward in NEO's technology.
NEO is also making its mark in the gaming industry. The platform has recently hosted Nicolas Choukroun, a Metaisland game developer, and Sergio Avila, the founder of SOMNIUMWAVE, on its Neo Live sessions. These discussions revolved around the integration of NFTs in gaming and the creation of open-world action-adventure games, showing NEO's commitment to advancing the intersection of blockchain and gaming.
NEO's expansion into the DeFi and NFT sectors is also noteworthy. Forthewin Network, a multi-service DeFi platform, received an Excellence Award in the recent Neo Polaris Launchpad hackathon. The platform allows users to trade, stake, and even mint and list tokens with no coding experience. This development, along with the launch of various NFT series on the Mega Oasis NFT marketplace, highlights NEO's growth in these burgeoning sectors.
Lastly, NEO's community growth and recognition have been impressive. The Neo Foundation has been seeking candidates to become initial members of the Neo Council, responsible for maintaining the network's health. The community also voted to select winners for Round 2 of Neospective, the content collaboration program hosted by NGD. These developments show that NEO is not only growing but also gaining recognition in the wider crypto community.