← All coins
DigiByte

DigiByte DGB

About

What Is DigiByte (DGB)?

DigiByte (DGB) is an open source blockchain and asset creation platform. Development began in October 2013 and the genesis block of its DGB token was mined in January 2014 as a fork of Bitcoin (BTC).

A longstanding public blockchain and cryptocurrency, DigiByte uses five different algorithms to improve security, and originally aimed to improve on the Bitcoin blockchain’s security, capacity and transaction speed.

DigiByte consists of three layers: a smart contract “App Store,” a public ledger and the core protocol featuring nodes communicating to relay transactions.

Who Are the Founders of DigiByte?

DigiByte was created by Jared Tate, also known as “DigiMan,” who oversaw its metamorphosis from development to its current setup before announcing that he was temporarily retiring from his position in May 2020.

Tate has since returned, and as of September 2020 once again appears closely involved with DigiByte’s growth.

Tate’s biography states that he was involved with Bitcoin from 2012 onwards, and authored the first book written by a blockchain founder, “Blockchain 2035: The Digital DNA of Internet 3.0.”

DigiByte’s operations depend not only on developers, but also the DigiByte Foundation, a volunteer organization tasked with overseeing preservation of the project. A third group of volunteers, the DigiByte Awareness Team, is responsible for marketing and promotional activities.

What Makes DigiByte Unique?

DigiByte is a modification of Bitcoin which aims to diversify security, speed and capacity possibilities.

Its first incarnation was as an open source blockchain and associated cryptocurrency, DGB. The network has five separate algorithms which help to maintain security and help prevent ASIC miners from commandeering too much power.

Later, another offering, DigiAssets, appeared, with DGB as its native token. DigiAssets appeals to those developers looking to launch digital assets, decentralized applications (DApps) and encode the necessary corresponding smart contracts.

All governance structures for DigiByte are run on a voluntary basis, in line with the thesis that the network should be open source and publicly accessible. Transaction fees in DGB are paid to miners for validating the blockchain.

How Many DigiByte (DGB) Coins Are There In Circulation?

DigiByte (DGB) is a proof-of-work (PoW) cryptocurrency, and miners earn tokens for validating blocks via block rewards.

In January 2014, 0.5% of the total DGB supply (105 million coins) was premined. 50% of the premine was reserved for development purposes, while the remainder was given away.

DGB has a hard supply cap of 21 billion tokens, with mining forming an emission curve with decreasing issuance — the block reward reduces by 1% each month.

DigiByte has stated that it purposely did not try to raise funds or give away tokens through instruments such as an initial coin offering (ICO) or similar token sale.

How Is the DigiByte Network Secured?

DigiByte uses a total of five proof-of-work algorithms to secure the blockchain and reduce the risk of double spending or 51% attacks.

Difficulty adjustments ensure resilience against hostile moves within mining circles, with DigiByte claiming to have the most advanced such difficulty setup among cryptocurrencies.

With roughly one block every 15 seconds, DigiByte’s blockchain has managed to prove the longevity of its PoW blockchain since launch, now having a much longer chain of PoW than, for example, Bitcoin.

Where Can You Buy DigiByte (DGB)?

DGB is a freely-tradable altcoin and is available on multiple exchanges. Trading pairs are available for cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and fiat currencies.

Bilaxy, Binance, Sistemkoin and OKEx had the lion’s share of volume for DGB trading pairs as of September 2020.

New to crypto? Find out how to buy Bitcoin or any other token here.

AI Analysis

Analyzed on March 1, 2026

What is the DigiByte (DGB) cryptocurrency good for? What are its main use cases?

DigiByte (DGB) is a decentralized, open-source cryptocurrency that was launched in 2014. It is designed to be a fast, secure, and scalable blockchain network with a focus on security, speed, and decentralization. Here are some of its main use cases:

1. Fast and Low-Cost Transactions

  • DigiByte offers fast transaction speeds (around 2-5 seconds per block) and low fees, making it suitable for everyday payments and microtransactions.
  • It supports DigiAssets, a platform for creating and trading digital assets, similar to Ethereum’s ERC-20 tokens.

2. Decentralized Digital Identity (Digi-ID)

  • Digi-ID is a decentralized identity verification system that allows users to authenticate themselves without relying on third parties.
  • Useful for secure logins, KYC (Know Your Customer) processes, and identity verification in DeFi and Web3 applications.

3. Blockchain Security & Cybersecurity

  • DigiByte’s MultiShield and Dandelion++ technologies enhance privacy and security.
  • It is used in cybersecurity applications, including secure data transmission and anti-phishing solutions.

4. Smart Contracts & DigiAssets

  • DigiByte supports smart contracts (via DigiAssets), enabling decentralized applications (DApps) and tokenized assets.
  • Developers can create and trade custom tokens, NFTs, and other digital assets on the DigiByte blockchain.

5. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) & Gaming

  • DGB can be used in DeFi protocols for lending, staking, and yield farming.
  • Some blockchain games and NFT projects integrate DigiByte for in-game transactions and asset ownership.

6. Cross-Chain Interoperability

  • DigiByte is working on interoperability solutions to connect with other blockchains, expanding its utility in the broader crypto ecosystem.

7. Merchant Adoption & Payments

  • Some merchants accept DGB as a payment method due to its fast and low-cost transactions.
  • It competes with Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC) in the payments space.

8. Community & Governance

  • DigiByte has a strong community-driven governance model, allowing holders to vote on network upgrades and proposals.

Conclusion

DigiByte is a versatile cryptocurrency with applications in payments, identity verification, cybersecurity, DeFi, and smart contracts. While it may not be as widely adopted as Bitcoin or Ethereum, it offers unique features like Digi-ID, DigiAssets, and strong security protocols, making it a valuable player in the blockchain space.

Would you like more details on any specific use case?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

What blockchain does DigiByte use? Is it its own blockchain or built on top of another?

DigiByte (DGB) operates on its own independent blockchain, not built on top of another blockchain like Ethereum or Bitcoin. It is a standalone blockchain designed specifically for the DigiByte project.

Key Features of DigiByte's Blockchain:

  1. Decentralized & Open-Source – DigiByte is a community-driven project with no central authority.
  2. UTXO Model – Similar to Bitcoin, it uses an Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model for transactions.
  3. Multi-Algorithm Mining – Supports multiple mining algorithms (SHA-256, Scrypt, Skein, Qubit, and Odocrypt) to promote decentralization.
  4. Fast & Lightweight – Blocks are produced every 15 seconds, making it faster than Bitcoin (10-minute blocks).
  5. DigiAssets & Smart Contracts – Supports decentralized applications (DApps) and digital assets via its DigiAssets protocol.

Comparison to Other Blockchains:

  • Bitcoin (BTC) – DigiByte is inspired by Bitcoin but with improvements in speed, security, and scalability.
  • Ethereum (ETH) – Unlike Ethereum, DigiByte does not rely on gas fees for smart contracts (though it has its own DigiAssets system).

Conclusion:

DigiByte is not a layer-2 or sidechain of another blockchain—it is a fully independent blockchain with its own consensus mechanism, tokenomics, and ecosystem.

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

Is DigiByte programmable? Does it support smart contracts or decentralized applications?

Yes, DigiByte (DGB) is programmable and supports smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), but with some limitations compared to platforms like Ethereum or Solana.

DigiByte's Smart Contract & dApp Capabilities:

  1. DigiByte Smart Contracts (DigiAssets & DigiID)

    • DigiAssets: A customizable token system that allows users to create and manage assets (similar to ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum).
    • DigiID: A decentralized identity system for authentication and identity verification.
    • These are not Turing-complete like Ethereum's Solidity, but they enable basic smart contract functionality.
  2. DigiByte Blockchain (UTXO Model)

    • Unlike Ethereum (which uses an account-based model), DigiByte uses a UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) model, similar to Bitcoin.
    • This makes it more suitable for simple transactions and tokenization rather than complex smart contracts.
  3. DigiByte 2.0 (Upcoming Upgrade)

    • The upcoming DigiByte 2.0 upgrade aims to introduce Turing-complete smart contracts (similar to Ethereum’s EVM).
    • This will allow for more advanced dApps, DeFi protocols, and NFTs on the DigiByte blockchain.
  4. DigiByte’s Virtual Machine (DVM)

    • DigiByte is developing a DigiByte Virtual Machine (DVM) to support smart contracts in a more flexible way.
    • This will enable developers to write and deploy smart contracts in languages like Rust, C++, or Solidity.

Comparison to Other Blockchains:

Feature DigiByte (Current) DigiByte (Post-2.0) Ethereum Solana
Smart Contracts Basic (DigiAssets) Turing-complete (DVM) Yes (EVM) Yes (Sealevel)
dApp Support Limited Full (Post-2.0) Full Full
Consensus DPoW (5 Algorithms) DPoW (5 Algorithms) PoS (Post-Merge) PoH + PoS
Scalability High (Fast blocks) Higher (Post-2.0) Moderate (Layer 2) High

Conclusion:

  • Currently, DigiByte supports basic smart contracts (DigiAssets, DigiID) but lacks full Turing-complete functionality.
  • After the DigiByte 2.0 upgrade, it will support advanced smart contracts and dApps, making it more competitive with Ethereum and Solana.
  • If you're looking for a highly programmable blockchain, DigiByte is improving but may not yet match Ethereum or Solana in terms of developer tools and ecosystem.

Would you like details on how to develop on DigiByte’s current or upcoming smart contract platform?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

How fast are DigiByte transactions? What is the typical confirmation time and throughput (transactions per second)?

DigiByte (DGB) is a decentralized blockchain platform known for its fast transaction speeds and low fees. Here’s a breakdown of its performance metrics:

Transaction Speed & Confirmation Time

  • Block Time: ~15 seconds (one of the fastest among major blockchains).
  • Typical Confirmation Time: 1–2 minutes (usually 4–6 blocks for security, similar to Bitcoin’s 6 confirmations).
  • Finality: Transactions are considered secure after ~15 minutes (10 blocks).

Throughput (Transactions Per Second - TPS)

  • Theoretical Max TPS: 280+ TPS (with MultiShield and DigiShield ASIC resistance).
  • Real-World TPS: ~100–200 TPS (varies based on network congestion).
  • Comparison:
    • Bitcoin: ~7 TPS
    • Ethereum (pre-EIP-1559): ~15–30 TPS
    • Litecoin: ~56 TPS

Key Features Contributing to Speed

  1. MultiShield & DigiShield – Prevents mining centralization and ensures consistent block times.
  2. UTXO Model – Similar to Bitcoin but optimized for faster processing.
  3. Low Fees – Typically < $0.01 per transaction, making microtransactions feasible.

Use Cases for Fast Transactions

  • Instant payments (retail, remittances)
  • Micropayments (content creators, gaming)
  • IoT & smart devices (low-latency transactions)

DigiByte’s speed and scalability make it competitive with newer blockchains, though it lacks smart contract functionality (unlike Ethereum or Solana).

Would you like a comparison with other blockchains?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

How much data can I store on the DigiByte blockchain? Does it support on-chain data storage?

The DigiByte (DGB) blockchain supports on-chain data storage, but with certain limitations. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Data Storage Capacity

  • DigiByte blocks have a fixed size limit (similar to Bitcoin and Litecoin), which restricts the amount of data that can be stored per block.
  • The current block size limit for DigiByte is 2MB (as of the latest updates), but this can vary based on network upgrades.
  • Unlike some other blockchains (e.g., Ethereum with smart contracts or IPFS for off-chain storage), DigiByte does not have a built-in unlimited storage mechanism.

2. How to Store Data On-Chain

  • OP_RETURN (Data Carrying Transactions)

    • DigiByte supports OP_RETURN transactions, allowing you to embed small amounts of data (up to 80 bytes per transaction).
    • This is useful for storing metadata, hashes, or small files (e.g., text, links, or cryptographic proofs).
    • Example: Storing a file hash (SHA-256) or a URL pointing to off-chain storage.
  • Custom Data in Transactions

    • You can include arbitrary data in transaction outputs (though this is less efficient than OP_RETURN).
    • Some wallets and tools allow embedding text, JSON, or binary data in transactions.

3. Off-Chain Storage Options

Since on-chain storage is limited, you can use hybrid approaches:

  • Store a hash on-chain (e.g., IPFS, Arweave, or a decentralized storage network).
  • Use DigiByte’s blockchain for verification while keeping large files off-chain.

4. Comparison with Other Blockchains

Feature DigiByte (DGB) Bitcoin (BTC) Ethereum (ETH) Filecoin/IPFS
On-Chain Storage OP_RETURN (80B) OP_RETURN (80B) Smart Contracts (Gas Cost) No (Off-Chain)
Block Size ~2MB ~4MB (SegWit) Unlimited (Gas-Limited) N/A
Best For Small metadata, hashes Small metadata, hashes Smart contracts, NFTs Large files

Conclusion

  • DigiByte supports on-chain data storage but is best for small, critical data (e.g., hashes, proofs, or metadata).
  • For large files, use off-chain storage (IPFS, Arweave) and store only a verifiable hash on the DigiByte blockchain.

Would you like help with a specific use case (e.g., storing NFT metadata, file hashes, or decentralized identity data)?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

Contact Us About DigiByte

Are you a representative of the DigiByte project? Send us a message.