← All coins
Hive

Hive HIVE

About

What Is Hive (HIVE)?

Hive (HIVE) is a blockchain running on a delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism. It launched in March 2020 as a hard fork of the centralized Steem blockchain and as a gateway from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0. The blockchain claims to offer “lightning-fast processing times and fee-less transactions.” Examples of use cases include social media with monetized rewards for content creators, interactive blockchain games, identity management, micro-loans and more. The platform powers decentralized applications (dApps) like Splinterlands, PeakD and HiveBlog.

Hive is a social network of apps and services, where users discover the capacity of blockchain technology, connect to the platform and securely share content through equitable redistribution of value. Thus, the users are the proprietors of the network, and sponsors can contact communities and artists directly without intermediaries.

Hive is an open source blockchain that focuses on scaling through layer-2 sidechains, while still benefiting from a common layer-1 blockchain backbone to ensure distributed data integrity. The Hive ecosystem runs on two cryptocurrencies — the native governance token, HIVE and the USD-pegged HBD stablecoin.

Who Are the Founders of Hive?

The launch of the project was announced by members of the Steem community. The Hive platform was born as a result of the struggle for control over management between Justin Sun (Tron CEO) and Steemit Inc. The developers hard forked the original Steem blockchain, continuing to operate independently, but with a focus on decentralization.

What Makes Hive Unique?

Hive is a blockchain that claims to be designed for Web 3.0. and social media dApps with an emphasis on speed, scalability, security and spacious storage.

Hive has a future-proof system for bandwidth and resource storage. The network is capable of securely storing enormous amounts of data and making it available via time-based monetization.

All posted original content is permanently stored on the Hive blockchain. Voting for content creators is available on the platform, it’s carried out with HIVE and HBD tokens within a 7-day period. The Proof of Brain protocol is responsible for maintaining the level of content quality, which stimulates the creative economy by leveraging the power of human subjectivity.

The blockchain also claims to be easy to adopt for developers, allowing them to create, deploy and run dApps. Developers can choose to implement new public and private networks, with Hive’s open source code.

How Many Hive (HIVE) Coins Are There in Circulation?

HIVE is the native cryptocurrency for the Hive network. According to the DPoS protocol, the more users stake their HIVE, the more they can earn from a reward pool.

HIVE is an inflationary cryptocurrency with no fixed maximum supply. New HIVE tokens are issued on schedule and distributed as follows: 65% to content producers and content curators (shared equally); 15% to HP stakers; 10% to the Witnesses; 10% to the Decentralized Hive Fund (DHF).

How Is the Hive (HIVE) Network Secured?

The decentralized blockchain is built on the Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism. Delegates (or Witnesses) verify transactions and create new blocks on the blockchain on behalf of investors, namely 20 selected Witnesses create blocks randomly, and users can stop delegating at any time. In general, the procedure reduces the centralized control over the network.

The platform has a decentralized governance system where users have a stake in the network — they have the right to vote, and this stake is represented by locked coins and is stored in special wallets in order to protect the protocol. The company that launched HIVE stores all digital cryptocurrencies in cold storage.

Where Can You Buy Hive (HIVE)?

As of September 2022, there are several crypto exchanges and trading platforms where users can purchase HIVE, including Binance, Bithumb, Gate.io, Huobi Global, Bittrex, ProBit Global, MEXC, Indodax, Tokocrypto, WazirX, Upbit, CoinEx, Nominex, BKEX, Pionex, CoinDCX, Bitcoiva, Jubi and ProBit.

AI Analysis

Analyzed on March 2, 2026

What is the Hive (HIVE) cryptocurrency good for? What are its main use cases?

Hive (HIVE) is a decentralized blockchain-based social media and content creation platform that serves as a fork of the original Steemit blockchain. It is designed to reward users for creating and curating content, fostering community engagement, and supporting decentralized applications (dApps). Here are its main use cases and benefits:

1. Decentralized Social Media & Content Creation

  • Rewards for Creators & Curators: Hive incentivizes users to create and engage with content by distributing HIVE tokens as rewards. This is similar to Steemit but with improved scalability and governance.
  • Blogging & Vlogging: Users can publish posts, videos, and other media on platforms like PeakD, Ecency, and 3Speak, earning HIVE for their contributions.
  • Community Engagement: Users can upvote, comment, and engage with content, earning a share of the rewards.

2. Decentralized Governance & Staking

  • Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS): Hive uses a DPoS consensus mechanism, where token holders can vote for witnesses (block producers) who validate transactions and maintain the network.
  • Staking & Delegation: Users can stake HIVE to earn rewards or delegate their stake to support content creators and curators.

3. NFTs & Digital Collectibles

  • Hive Engine: A sidechain that allows the creation of custom tokens and NFTs, enabling users to trade digital assets.
  • NFT Marketplaces: Platforms like Hive-Engine and Splinterlands (a popular blockchain-based card game) use HIVE for transactions and rewards.

4. Gaming & Play-to-Earn (P2E)

  • Splinterlands: One of the most successful blockchain games, where players earn HIVE and other tokens by battling and trading in-game assets.
  • Other dApps: Hive supports various gaming and P2E applications, providing a decentralized alternative to traditional gaming economies.

5. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) & Tokenization

  • Hive Engine Tokens: Users can create and trade custom tokens on Hive Engine, enabling DeFi-like functionalities.
  • Liquidity Pools & Staking: Some platforms allow users to provide liquidity and earn rewards in HIVE or other tokens.

6. Cross-Chain Interoperability

  • Hive Bridge: Enables interoperability with other blockchains, allowing users to transfer HIVE to other networks like Ethereum or Binance Smart Chain.

7. Community & DAO Governance

  • Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs): Hive supports community-driven governance, where token holders can propose and vote on platform upgrades and policies.

Why Choose Hive Over Other Blockchains?

  • Scalability: Hive can handle high transaction volumes with low fees, making it suitable for social media and gaming.
  • User-Friendly: Unlike Ethereum, Hive is designed for non-technical users, with easy-to-use wallets and interfaces.
  • Decentralized & Censorship-Resistant: No single entity controls the network, ensuring free speech and open participation.

Conclusion

Hive (HIVE) is primarily used for content creation, social media rewards, gaming (especially Splinterlands), NFTs, and decentralized governance. Its low fees, scalability, and community-driven approach make it a strong alternative to other blockchain-based social and gaming platforms.

Would you like more details on any specific use case?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

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

Hive operates on its own independent blockchain, not built on top of another blockchain like Ethereum or Bitcoin.

Key Details About Hive's Blockchain:

  1. Decentralized & Open-Source – Hive is a community-driven blockchain designed for fast, scalable, and decentralized applications (dApps), social media, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
  2. Forked from Steem – Hive was created in 2020 as a hard fork of the Steem blockchain after a governance dispute. It retained many of Steem's features but improved decentralization and governance.
  3. Consensus Mechanism – Hive uses Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS), where elected witnesses (validators) secure the network.
  4. Native Cryptocurrency – The blockchain has its own token, HIVE, used for transactions, staking, and governance.
  5. Scalability & Speed – Hive processes transactions quickly (3-second block times) and supports high throughput.

Comparison to Other Blockchains:

  • Not a Layer-2 or Sidechain – Unlike Polygon (Ethereum L2) or Arbitrum, Hive is a standalone blockchain.
  • Competitor to Steem – Hive was created as an alternative to Steem, offering a more decentralized and community-focused model.

Hive is best known for powering decentralized social media platforms like PeakD and Ecency, as well as DeFi applications.

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

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

Hive is a blockchain-based platform that is programmable and supports decentralized applications (dApps), but it does not natively support smart contracts in the same way as Ethereum or other smart contract platforms. Here’s a breakdown of its capabilities:

1. Programmability in Hive

  • Customizable Tokens & DApps: Hive allows developers to create custom tokens, decentralized applications, and other blockchain-based solutions using its native scripting and API capabilities.
  • Hive Engine: A secondary token platform built on Hive that enables the creation of custom tokens and dApps with minimal fees.
  • Hive SQL: A decentralized database system that allows for structured data storage and querying, useful for dApp development.

2. Smart Contracts on Hive

  • No Native Smart Contracts: Unlike Ethereum, Hive does not have a built-in smart contract language (like Solidity). Instead, it relies on:
    • Custom Scripts & APIs: Developers can write scripts in languages like JavaScript, Python, or Rust to interact with the blockchain.
    • Hive Engine & Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs): Many dApps on Hive are built using Hive Engine, which supports token creation and basic smart contract-like functionality.
    • Third-Party Solutions: Some projects have developed smart contract-like systems on top of Hive, but they are not as flexible as Ethereum’s EVM.

3. Decentralized Applications (dApps) on Hive

  • Popular dApps: Hive hosts several dApps, including:
    • PeakD (decentralized blogging)
    • Splinterlands (blockchain-based game)
    • Tribaldex (decentralized exchange)
    • Hive-Engine-based projects (custom tokens, DeFi tools)
  • Low Fees & Fast Transactions: Hive’s architecture allows for high throughput and low-cost transactions, making it suitable for dApps.

4. Comparison to Ethereum & Other Smart Contract Platforms

Feature Hive Ethereum EOS
Smart Contracts Limited (via scripts & APIs) Yes (Solidity) Yes (EOSIO)
dApp Support Yes (via Hive Engine, APIs) Yes (EVM) Yes (EOSIO)
Consensus DPoS (Delegated Proof of Stake) PoS (Proof of Stake) DPoS
Transaction Speed Fast (~3 sec) Moderate (~15 sec) Fast (~0.5 sec)
Fees Low Moderate (varies) Low

Conclusion

Hive is programmable and supports dApps, but it does not have native smart contract functionality like Ethereum. Instead, developers use scripts, APIs, and Hive Engine to build decentralized applications. If you're looking for a blockchain with full smart contract capabilities, Ethereum, EOS, or other EVM-compatible chains might be better suited. However, Hive excels in low-cost, high-speed dApp development with a strong focus on social and gaming applications.

Would you like recommendations for specific Hive-based dApp development tools?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

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

The performance of Hive transactions (specifically Hive ACID transactions) depends on several factors, including the underlying storage engine, cluster configuration, and workload characteristics. Below is a breakdown of typical confirmation times and throughput (transactions per second, TPS) for Hive transactions:

1. Confirmation Time (Latency)

  • Single Transaction Commit Time:

    • Optimized for batch processing (not low-latency OLTP).
    • Typically 100ms to 1 second for small transactions (e.g., single-row inserts/updates).
    • Larger transactions (e.g., bulk inserts) may take several seconds to minutes due to compaction and indexing overhead.
  • Factors Affecting Latency:

    • Storage Engine:
      • ORC/Parquet with ACID (default in Hive 3+) is slower than raw HDFS writes.
      • Delta Lake or Iceberg (if used instead of native Hive) may offer better performance.
    • Cluster Resources: More executors and faster disks (SSD) reduce latency.
    • Concurrency: High contention slows down commits.

2. Throughput (Transactions Per Second, TPS)

  • Typical TPS for Hive ACID Transactions:

    • 10–100 TPS for small, single-row transactions (depends on cluster size).
    • 100–1,000+ TPS for bulk inserts (e.g., INSERT INTO ... SELECT).
    • Batch processing (ETL workloads) is where Hive excels, not high-frequency OLTP.
  • Comparison with Other Systems:

    • HBase (for real-time OLTP): 10,000+ TPS (but not SQL-based).
    • Delta Lake/Iceberg: 1,000–10,000+ TPS (better than Hive for concurrent writes).
    • Traditional RDBMS (PostgreSQL, MySQL): 1,000–100,000+ TPS (but not at Hive’s scale).

3. Optimizing Hive Transaction Performance

  • Use ORC/Parquet with ACID (Hive 3+).
  • Increase hive.txn.manager concurrency settings (e.g., hive.support.concurrency).
  • Partition data to reduce lock contention.
  • Use batch inserts instead of row-by-row operations.
  • Consider Delta Lake or Iceberg for better performance in some cases.

Conclusion

Hive transactions are not designed for low-latency OLTP but work well for batch processing and analytics. For high-throughput transactional workloads, consider Delta Lake, Iceberg, or HBase instead.

Would you like benchmarks for a specific Hive version or configuration?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

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

The Hive blockchain is designed primarily for decentralized applications (dApps), social media, and community-driven platforms, but it does not support large-scale on-chain data storage like some other blockchains (e.g., IPFS, Filecoin, or Arweave). Here’s what you need to know:

1. On-Chain Storage Limits on Hive

  • Transaction Size Limit: Hive has a block size limit (currently around 1MB per block), meaning each transaction must fit within this constraint.
  • Storage Costs: Storing data on-chain is expensive because every node in the network must replicate it. Large data storage is discouraged.
  • Best for Small Data: Hive is optimized for small, structured data (e.g., social media posts, comments, or metadata).

2. Off-Chain Storage Solutions

For large files or long-term storage, Hive integrates with off-chain solutions:

  • Hive Blobs (Binary Large Objects): Allows storing binary data (like images, videos) off-chain but with a reference on-chain.
  • IPFS (InterPlanetary File System): Many Hive dApps use IPFS to store large files and store only the content hash on-chain.
  • Hive Engine (Custom Tokens & Smart Contracts): Supports lightweight smart contracts but not large-scale data storage.

3. Comparison with Other Blockchains

Blockchain On-Chain Storage Off-Chain Support
Hive Limited (small data) IPFS, Hive Blobs
Ethereum Limited (gas costs) IPFS, Arweave
Filecoin/Arweave No (focused on off-chain) Native storage
Solana Limited (high throughput) Off-chain solutions

4. Best Practices for Hive Data Storage

  • Store only references (e.g., IPFS hashes) on-chain.
  • Use Hive Blobs for small binary data.
  • Avoid large on-chain storage to keep transaction costs low.

Conclusion

Hive is not ideal for large-scale on-chain data storage, but it supports off-chain solutions (IPFS, Hive Blobs) for efficient storage. If you need massive decentralized storage, consider Filecoin, Arweave, or IPFS alongside Hive.

Would you like recommendations for specific use cases?

Answered by mistral-small-latest (mistral)

Contact Us About Hive

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