Research Report｜Shardeum Network Project Overview & SHM Valuation Analysis

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西格玛学长2025/05/07 07:31

By:西格玛学长

I. Project Introduction

Shardeum is a dynamic, auto-scaling EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain designed for mass adoption. Its core innovation is Dynamic State Sharding, a technology that automatically adjusts the network structure based on real-time transaction volume. This ensures linear scalability while maintaining consistently low gas fees—even under high user loads.

Shardeum adopts a unique hybrid consensus mechanism combining Proof of Stake (PoS) and Proof of Quorum (PoQ). Each validator node only processes a fraction of the network state, enabling low hardware requirements. Validator roles rotate every 60 seconds, enhancing security, resistance to Sybil attacks, and true decentralization—enabling anyone to participate and verify.

Unlike traditional blockchains that process transactions in blocks, Shardeum implements a blockless execution model, where each transaction is processed individually and in real-time based on timestamp order. Coupled with cross-shard atomic communication, smart contracts maintain composability and state consistency across shards. This architecture eliminates MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) and front-running risks, simplifying the developer experience.

As of now, Shardeum has accumulated 1.2M+ user accounts, 81M+ transactions, and 247K+ smart contracts on its testnet. The mainnet is scheduled to launch on May 5, with phased rollouts including contract deployment and incentive mechanisms. From DeFi and gaming to RWA and AI applications, Shardeum is positioning itself as a key infrastructure for the next generation of Web3.

Research Report｜Shardeum Network Project Overview & SHM Valuation Analysis image 0

II. Project Highlights

Dynamic State Sharding: True Linear Scalability Shardeum’s Dynamic State Sharding architecture enables the network to scale up or down automatically based on demand. Compared to static sharding or fixed-throughput L1s, Shardeum can rapidly expand during traffic spikes or contract during low activity, improving efficiency and drastically lowering participation barriers.
Blockless Execution: Eliminates MEV and Front-Running Transactions are individually confirmed and executed in strict chronological order, rather than being bundled into blocks. This natively eliminates MEV opportunities, offering a fair and transparent environment for users and developers.
Full EVM Compatibility + Cross-Shard Atomic Execution Shardeum natively supports Solidity and the EVM toolchain, enabling developers to migrate DApps without rewriting code. It also allows atomic calls and state synchronization across shards, maintaining composability and reducing complexity—ideal for high-frequency trading, gaming, and AI workloads.
Transparent Metrics & Rapid Ecosystem Growth Before mainnet launch, Shardeum already boasts over 150 ecosystem projects, 171,000+ public validators, and 1.4M+ community members, along with 81M+ on-chain transactions and 247K+ smart contracts—demonstrating robust real activity and developer momentum.

III. Market Valuation Outlook

Shardeum’s architectural innovations set it apart in a crowded L1 space. With dynamic state sharding, per-transaction consensus, and node hot-swapping, Shardeum effectively overcomes the traditional trade-offs between performance and decentralization. Its low barrier to entry has already attracted over 170,000 validators on testnet, hinting at strong post-mainnet participation and security.

With over 1.2 million registered accounts, 80M+ testnet transactions, and 150+ ongoing ecosystem projects, Shardeum is demonstrating the capacity to support data-intensive use cases like AI, DePIN, and modular middleware—where low gas fees and composability are key competitive advantages.

In terms of valuation benchmarks:

Conflux (CFX): ~$300M FDV (high-performance L1 with China narrative)
Hedera (HBAR): ~$8B FDV (enterprise-grade DLT)
Solana (SOL): ~$80B FDV (top-tier scalable L1)

Assuming strong ecosystem traction and execution post-mainnet, SHM could feasibly reach a Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) ranging from hundreds of millions to several billion USD.

Research Report｜Shardeum Network Project Overview & SHM Valuation Analysis image 1

IV. Tokenomics

Total Supply: 249,000,000 SHM
Initial Circulating Supply: 140,000,000 SHM

Token Allocation:

Private Sale (36.72%, ~91.44M SHM)
- Cliff: 3 months post-TGE
- Vesting: Linear over 2 years
Team (30.6%, ~76.2M SHM)
- Cliff: 3 months post-TGE
- Vesting: Linear over 2 years
Foundation (22.44%, ~55.88M SHM)
- Unlocked at mainnet launch
Ecosystem & Airdrop (10.23%, ~25.48M SHM)
- Unlocked at mainnet launch

Use Cases:

Staking: Validators must stake SHM to participate in consensus and earn block rewards
Gas Fees: SHM is the native currency for transaction and computation fees
Incentives: Used to reward node operators and ecosystem contributors

Deflationary Mechanisms:

100% of gas fees are burned, not distributed—creating natural deflation
Slashed validator stakes are also burned, increasing long-term scarcity
Rewards are dynamically issued based on network demand—mitigating inflation risk

V. Team & Fundraising

Key Team Members:

Srinivasan Parthasarathy – Co-Founder & CTO Former VP of Engineering at DraftKings; veteran in blockchain infrastructure, with deep expertise in distributed systems and consensus algorithms.

The broader team includes engineers and researchers from FAANG companies and leading Web3 protocols, with strong experience in product development, security, and large-scale systems.

Fundraising Summary: Shardeum has raised approximately $31.8M over three rounds, backed by leading Web3 VCs and tech funds:

Seed Round (Sep 2022)
1. Price: $0.80 / SHM
2. Raised: $18.72M
Strategic Round (Jun 2023)
1. Price: $1.00 / SHM
2. Raised: $7.20M
Bridge Round (Dec 2024)
1. Price: $1.25 / SHM
2. Raised: $5.88M

Private sale accounts for 36.72% of total supply, with a 3-month cliff + 2-year linear vesting schedule.

VI. Risk Factors

Token Incentive vs. Deflation Balance Shardeum uses a mixed model of on-demand token issuance and full fee burning. If transaction volume and gas revenue remain low for prolonged periods, validator rewards could weaken—posing risks to network security.
Developer Ecosystem Challenge While fully EVM-compatible, Shardeum must still compete with mature ecosystems like Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Polygon. Attracting and retaining developers will be key to sustaining long-term SHM demand.

VII. Official Links

Website: https://shardeum.org/
Twitter: https://x.com/shardeum
Telegram: https://telegram.me/shardeum

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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