QAU is the fuel that powers the Quantaureum blockchain. Unlike bitcoin, which primarily serves as digital money, QAU has multiple uses within the Quantaureum network.
As Quantaureum's native token, QAU is used to:
- Pay transaction fees (gas) for using the network and its applications
- Secure the Quantaureum network through staking
QAU launched with Quantaureum itself, with an initial supply of 20 million QAU defined by the protocol. You can read the full overview of Quantaureum to see how QAU fits into the network.
For users
QAU enables global transfers without banks, and access to applications built on the network. It's censorship resistant with 24/7 cross-border functionality.
For developers
QAU pays for transaction fees when deploying smart contracts to Quantaureum. It's also the primary currency used within applications in the ecosystem.
For stakers
QAU can be staked to help secure the network and earn protocol rewards. Staking gives QAU a role beyond payments: it's the collateral that makes QPOS work.
How to get QAU
Getting QAU is straightforward, with several options depending on your needs and location. Always start with a trusted platform offering strong security.
As the network is young, availability is still growing — check the community channels for the current official ways to obtain QAU.
Sidenote
When getting QAU you'll hear "account/address" and "wallet".
- Think of your account like your email address where people send you money.
- Think of your wallet like your email app where you check balances and make payments.
Common ways to get QAU include:
- Exchanges and on-ramps where available, with instant purchases at higher fees
- Direct transfers from people you know
- Testnet faucets to experiment risk-free while learning
For teams, higher-limit options depend on where the network is listed — verify any listing against official community channels before trusting it.
Other ways to get QAU:
- Receive payments from people you know
- Provide liquidity to applications on the network
- Stake QAU to earn rewards while securing the Quantaureum network
How to send and receive QAU
Sending QAU requires a wallet and recipient address. Enter their address, specify the amount, review the transaction fee, and confirm. Transactions cannot be reversed once finalized.
Receiving QAU requires sharing your Quantaureum address or QR code with the sender. Funds appear in your wallet after the network confirms the transfer, with most wallets providing notifications.
Need help? Read the How to use a wallet guide.
Sidenote
Only share your Quantaureum address with trusted contacts. Since Quantaureum is a public ledger, they can view your balance and transactions. They can't access your funds, but privacy is recommended.
For larger amounts, consider hardware wallets for added security.
Learn about Quantaureum and how it works.How long does it take to send QAU?
Every QAU transaction is signed with a post-quantum ML-DSA-65 signature, then broadcast to the network and included in a block by a validator.
A block is finalized when the validator committee co-signs it with a threshold signature (GM-QTD) — no waiting for multiple probabilistic confirmations.
During high network traffic, you can speed up transactions by paying higher priority fees, placing you ahead in line. The fee goes toward processing the transaction and rewarding the block proposer.
How much does it cost to send QAU?
Quantaureum transactions require fees paid in QAU. The fee is calculated based on the computational work required (measured in 'gas') and the network's current demand. The price of gas fluctuates with network traffic, making transactions lower-cost during off-peak periods.
For current fee levels, check the block explorer — live gas prices depend on real network conditions, so this page intentionally avoids quoting fixed numbers.
What is the QAU supply?
Unlike Bitcoin's fixed 21 million cap, QAU has defined but dynamic supply mechanics:
- The initial supply is 20,000,000 QAU, defined by the protocol at launch
- New QAU is issued only as protocol staking rewards — no one can mint QAU manually
- The base fee of every transaction is permanently burned, so usage offsets issuance
By design, this ties the supply curve to real network usage: busy periods burn more, quiet periods issue more.
You can verify supply and burn activity on the Quantaureum Explorer
What is the distribution of QAU?
The genesis allocation and vesting schedule are defined in the protocol's token documentation. You can verify the current distribution on chain via the Quantaureum Explorer — every account and every balance is public.
What makes QAU valuable?
QAU derives value from multiple sources:
Network utility: All Quantaureum transactions require QAU for gas, creating demand that grows with network adoption.
Staking rewards: Stakers earn protocol rewards while securing the network, giving QAU a productive use beyond holding.
Scarcity by design: Initial supply is fixed and new issuance is protocol-only, offset by fee burning.
Quantum-safe security: Every QAU account is protected by post-quantum signatures — the asset is designed to stay secure even as quantum computing advances.
What is wrapping QAU?
Wrapped QAU is a token contract that represents QAU on a 1:1 basis, for use in applications that expect a standard token interface rather than the native asset. 'Wrapping' means locking QAU in a contract and issuing a token representation of that locked QAU.
Common uses include:
- Trading pairs on decentralized exchanges
- Collateral on lending and staking applications
- Bidding and payments in collectible marketplaces
Wrapped QAU can be unwrapped back to QAU anytime. The wrapped token is destroyed, and the QAU it represented is released from the contract. Most applications handle the wrapping and unwrapping process seamlessly.
Learn more about Wrapped QAU