When people talk about Quantaureum, they're usually talking about a few different things. There's the ecosystem of apps and digital assets, the open-source software platform, and the native currency qau (QAU).
But underneath it all is the Quantaureum network; the physical and digital foundation that ties everything together.
At its core, the Quantaureum network is a set of independent computers called nodes. These nodes are run by people all over the world. They work together to store data, execute smart contracts, and record every transaction on an open, public ledger. The public network is still growing — anyone can run a node.
The Quantaureum network handles several key tasks, like:
- updating user accounts and balances
- executing smart contracts (programs running apps)
- tracking ownership of digital assets (like stablecoins and NFTs)
- processing all transactions that flow through Quantaureum every day
Fortunately, you don't need to understand how the network works to use it.
Most people simply use the network via a digital wallet. A wallet is usually a web or mobile app that lets you send and receive QAU, manage your assets, and use apps.
Other types of users like developers and businesses building on Quantaureum might use APIs, node software, or deploy smart contracts.
The Quantaureum network is different from traditional systems because of how it's designed. Quantaureum's code and data is stored on decentralized nodes around the world, so no one can block your access or shut down your app.
And because anyone can join, it opens the door to global access and innovation.
These qualities enable things that weren't possible before, like:
- data ownership
- social media without de-platforming
- open and transparent financial systems
At its core, the Quantaureum network is a foundation for digital ownership and open participation.
You may hear people refer to Quantaureum Mainnet. This is the main Quantaureum network, where real value moves. The public testnet is a separate network for safe experimentation.
What are Quantaureum network fees (aka gas fees)?
Every transaction on Quantaureum costs a small fee called a gas fee. Whether you send QAU, swap tokens, or use an app, you pay a small amount of gas each time you write data to the blockchain.
Gas fees keep Quantaureum running smoothly. Without it, bad actors could spam the network with empty transactions and make it impossible to use through heavy congestion, since there'd be no way to prioritize transactions by the fee users are willing to pay.
So, what happens when you pay gas? The fee is paid to the validator who adds your transaction to a “block” of transactions, rewarding the network's block proposers.
Because demand for block space varies, when the network is busy, fees go up. When things are quieter, fees go down.
Quantaureum uses a fee model where transaction costs are paid to the block proposer and the validators who secure the network. You can explore on-chain activity on the Quantaureum Explorer.
So, how much does a transaction cost?
Well, fees vary depending on what you're doing. Simply sending QAU might cost less than a dollar. Swapping tokens on a decentralized exchange (DEX) can be a few dollars or more, especially if the network is busy. The more complex the transaction the more gas it costs.
Gas fees are one of the most visible parts of using Quantaureum, especially for new users, but it all goes toward making the network more reliable and secure.
Learn more about Quantaureum network fees
What is staking and how does it secure the network?
The Quantaureum network is secured by a system called staking. This is how Quantaureum verifies transactions, adds new blocks, and keeps the network safe from attacks.
Quantaureum runs on a consensus mechanism (a way to agree on who owns what) called proof of stake, named QPOS — Quantum Proof of Stake.
In QPOS, validators lock QAU as a security deposit for the right to propose and vote on blocks; a committee threshold signature (GM-QTD) then finalizes them.
So, how does it work?
In simple terms, people lock up some QAU (put their QAU at stake), as a deposit so that they can help secure the network. These people are called validators. When you stake QAU, your validator gets chosen to check and add new transactions. If you do it honestly, you earn rewards. If you try to cheat, you lose part of your stake.
In QPOS, an attacker would need to control a large share of the stake — and a supermajority of the validator committee — to force a fraudulent finality. Threshold-signature finality makes single-key attacks impossible by design: a block is final only when the committee co-signs it, and any attack attempt is visible and slashable.
This is what gives Quantaureum “economic security”. It's not just about having the right technology. It's about making attacks too costly to even try.
To help secure the Quantaureum network, you can do this in two main ways.
The first way is running a node. Nodes store the entire history of the blockchain, including all transactions and smart contract data. By syncing with other nodes, they can agree on the state of the network, making sure transactions are legit and smart contract data is available.
The second way is staking your QAU. You can run your own validator, or delegate to an existing one — check the staking documentation for how it works on Quantaureum.
How to explore live Quantaureum network data
Quantaureum is transparent by design. Every action on the network, from sending QAU to running a validator, is recorded on an open, public ledger that anyone can access.
This is a sharp contrast to how most systems work today:
- banks and institutions publish their internal numbers
- app usage figures are closely guarded by tech companies
- economic data often arrives late and gets revised later
With Quantaureum, you don't have to trust. You can verify.
You don't need to understand any of this to use Quantaureum. But if you're curious about live network activity, there are tools that let anyone explore the network in real time.
Here are a few of the most useful data sources, and what you might use them for:
- Quantaureum Explorer: Check transactions, wallet activity, and smart contracts
- Quantaureum on GitHub (opens in a new tab): read the source code and protocol design documents
- Developer documentation: how the network works, in depth
- Discord community (opens in a new tab): ask questions and follow development
All of these tools are there if you need them.
Whether you're a developer, researcher, investor, or just someone who wants to check a transaction, Quantaureum's open network gives you the data—live, permissionless, and verifiable.
Browse Quantaureum network dashboards and block explorers