Tezos governance blockchain

Tezos is a governance blockchain that can change itself through community voting and automatic protocol upgrades. It is self-amending and open source. The network uses a native token, XTZ, to power voting and staking. Holders use XTZ to participate in governance and to pay for transaction fees. Changes are proposed by validators, known as bakers, and then the community votes. The voting process is on-chain and split into clear stages to reduce risk. Successful proposals enter a test chain phase so the network can simulate the change before it goes live. This staged approach treats time like a circle of proposals, tests, and iterations. The consensus model is liquid proof-of-stake. Bakers secure the ledger by staking XTZ and signing blocks. There is no rigid lockup for staking in most cases, so participants can reassign or withdraw their stake with flexibility. Users with smaller holdings can delegate their staking power to bakers without giving up custody of their tokens. That keeps participation accessible and decentralized. The automatic upgrade mechanism avoids disruptive hard forks that split communities. Instead, protocol rules evolve via votes and soft transitions. This design lowers political and technical friction when features need to change. The network supports smart contracts, so developers can build decentralized finance apps, games, and NFT platforms. Transactions are typically fast and inexpensive, which helps creative projects and small payments. NFT artists and game studios often prefer chains with low fees and simple on-chain governance. The Tezos model also aligns incentives for continuous improvement because bakers who propose useful upgrades may receive rewards. Hardware wallets and secure key management tools can integrate with the chain to store keys and to enable secure staking and NFT custody. For security, proposal testing and staged voting reduce the chance of buggy upgrades reaching the main network. For newcomers, the governance model is more democratic because token holders vote directly rather than relying on off-chain coordination. For developers, the model offers predictable upgrade paths and an environment where iterative changes are supported. Overall, Tezos combines on-chain democracy, liquid proof-of-stake, and upgrade automation to create a blockchain that aims to be adaptable, resilient, and friendly to creators and builders.