Aligned (ALIGN) Yes, the Aligned Layer project has a native crypto token called $ALIGN. It is planned and already part of the ecosystem with utilities including payment for verification, subscription staking, and dual staking to secure the network. The total supply is 10 billion tokens, with token generation events and sales planned or ongoing.
Yes, the Aligned Foundation is conducting an airdrop of $ALIGN tokens. It targets holders of tokens from major ZK and Ethereum ecosystem projects such as STRK, MINA, ZK, POL, SCR, TAIKO, and EIGEN. Eligible users must register their Ethereum-compatible wallets holding these tokens before the December 23 deadline to participate. The airdrop will distribute 26% of ALIGN tokens to over 891,000 addresses. You can check eligibility and register at genesis.alignedfoundation.org.
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Aligned is a vertically integrated ZK infrastructure stack built around a proof verification layer on Ethereum. The project’s core goal is simple: make it fast and affordable to verify zero‑knowledge (ZK) proofs on Ethereum, then settle the results back to Ethereum for composability. In practice, the Aligned blockchain stack combines a Proof Verification Layer (an EigenLayer AVS), a Proof Aggregation Service, Rollup‑as‑a‑Service, wallet tools, and interoperability components that teams can plug into with one click. The ALIGN token is the native utility asset that powers payments and staking across this stack. (alignedlayer.com)
Verifying ZK proofs directly in the EVM is costly and slow, limiting rollups, cross‑chain bridges, and privacy‑preserving apps. Aligned runs verifiers natively on a decentralized set of operators and aggregates their BLS signatures, cutting gas per proof by 90–99% and raising throughput from tens of proofs per second on Ethereum to thousands. That unlocks new use cases across DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and AI. For readers tracking ALIGN price, note that live market data appears in the dynamic widget on this page; the discussion below focuses on the tech and design. (blog.alignedlayer.com)
Aligned was founded by Roberto José (RJ) Catalán, Federico Carrone, Diego Kingston (Head of Research), and Mauro Toscano (Head of Engineering). The team’s background spans applied cryptography, Ethereum clients, and production infra, which shows in their engineering‑first roadmap and frequent public “Alignment Session” updates. (alignedlayer.com)
After early testnets and audits, Aligned announced its Mainnet Beta on Ethereum in December 2024. The beta demonstrated ~200 proofs per second at ~2,100 gas per proof, with the design target in the thousands of proofs per second as batching and payments improve. The company raised a $2.6M seed round led by Lemniscap with participation from Bankless Ventures, Paper Ventures, StarkWare, and O(1)Labs, followed by a $20M Series A led by Hack VC with DAO5, L2Iterative, Nomad Capital, Finality Capital, Symbolic VC, Theta Capital, J17, EVG Ventures, Decima, Protagonist, and others. (blog.alignedlayer.com)
Aligned offers two complementary paths to settle proofs on Ethereum:
Security comes from Ethereum restakers: a decentralized set of operators bonded via EigenLayer validates batches and signs results. Public explorer pages show individual operators and restaked assets (e.g., native ETH, stETH, rETH, wBETH, sfrxETH), illustrating the breadth of collateral behind the service. While operator counts evolve, the model remains consistent: crypto‑economic guarantees from restaked ETH plus slashing conditions align incentives. (explorer.alignedlayer.com)
Aligned supports multiple verifiers so developers can pick what fits their circuits and hardware:
Aligned’s docs and engineering posts outline the performance gap: verifying a single Groth16 proof natively on Ethereum consumes 250k gas (STARKs can exceed 1M), limiting proofs per block. In PVL, an aggregated BLS signature (113k gas) attests to many off‑chain verifications, bringing per‑proof gas down as batches grow, often under 10% of the EVM‑native cost. (blog.alignedlayer.com)
Beyond proof settlement, the Aligned blockchain stack includes:
The ALIGN token has a fixed supply of 10,000,000,000, with an initial circulating supply targeted at 3,000,000,000 (30%). Distribution is designed to favor long‑term community growth:
Aligned tokenomics are built around two core utilities that directly tie the token to network demand:
The Aligned Foundation ran a community offering on CoinList from January 16–23, 2025, with eligibility subject to KYC/AML and regional restrictions, and with vesting schedules tied to a subsequent exchange listing. ALIGN is an ERC‑20 on Ethereum. Availability beyond the initial offering depends on exchange listings and regional rules. (coinlist.co)
With Aligned, rollups and DeFi protocols can settle proofs to Ethereum more often without breaking the bank. That can reduce withdrawal windows, increase capital efficiency, and support features like ZK‑based compliance proofs or account privacy. For cross‑chain flows, the Aggregation Service and interoperability protocol let apps verify proofs with Ethereum‑level security even when activity happens elsewhere. (docs.alignedlayer.com)
Creators and marketplaces can use ZK proofs to certify authenticity, provenance, or trait reveals while keeping sensitive data off‑chain. By cutting verification costs, Aligned makes frequent, lightweight attestations practical at scale, which is useful for dynamic NFTs or on‑chain media with evolving states. (docs.alignedlayer.com)
Aligned enables verifiable off‑chain computation for moves, states, or anti‑cheat logic. Game clients or servers generate proofs; operators verify them in bulk; Ethereum records a succinct attestation. This flow keeps UX fast while preserving trust for tournaments, assets, and rewards. (docs.alignedlayer.com)
Projects can prove that models ran as claimed (e.g., on an approved dataset or within a bounded runtime) and settle those results to Ethereum. Lower verification costs help developers include verifiability in everyday AI pipelines rather than reserving it for only the highest‑value tasks. (docs.alignedlayer.com)
If you’re searching “where to buy ALIGN,” note that Aligned held a community sale on CoinList from January 16–23, 2025, with vesting tied to a later listing and access limited by jurisdiction. After the token generation event, ALIGN may be available as an ERC‑20 on Ethereum through decentralized exchanges and select centralized venues that list it. Availability varies by region and venue; always rely on official channels for any contract address. (coinlist.co)
Because ALIGN is an ERC‑20, any Ethereum‑compatible wallet works, including browser wallets and hardware wallets. Typical steps:
Aligned builds infrastructure on Ethereum and operates a PVL as an EigenLayer AVS. The Foundation used CoinList for a community offering with standard KYC/AML and excluded residents of certain regions (including the United States, Canada, and China) from participating in that sale. This reflects typical distribution controls for token launches; ongoing exchange access remains jurisdiction‑specific. (coinlist.co)
Is Aligned crypto halal? No. There is no public information from Aligned indicating a formal Shariah certification, and the project does not market ALIGN as “ALIGN shariah compliant.” Many Shariah screenings consider business activity, interest/loan usage, and contract structures; Aligned’s public materials focus on technology and services rather than religious compliance. If formal guidance is issued in the future, it would likely be communicated by the Foundation or a recognized Shariah board. (alignedlayer.com)
Roadmaps and monthly updates highlight continued work on:
Aligned is a focused attempt to make Ethereum the best place to verify and settle ZK proofs. By running verifiers natively in a restaked operator network, aggregating signatures, and offering an aggregation option for full L1 security, it pushes verification costs down and throughput up. The ALIGN token ties usage and security together through payments and dual staking, while the broader stack—RaaS, meta‑proving, wallets, and interoperability—lowers the barrier for builders. If you’re comparing ZK infrastructure for DeFi, NFTs, or gaming, the Aligned blockchain stack is worth close attention. For ALIGN price and markets, use the live panel on this page; for building, start with the docs and supported verifiers. (blog.alignedlayer.com)
Aligned Layer is a decentralized network of verifiers that uses Ethereum's security to verify zero-knowledge and validity proofs cost-effectively. It aims to accelerate Ethereum's scaling by enabling affordable verification of various proof systems.
| Sector: | Identity |
| Blockchain: | Ethereum |
