Chia was created by Bram Cohen, the author of the BitTorrent protocol, and its mainnet went live in March 2021. Rather than rewarding raw processing power, it rewards participants who set aside storage space. Here is how it works and what it is used for, not the price.
Total value locked (DeFi)
n/a
Value locked in DeFi protocols on Chia. Updated Jun 8, 2026. Source: DefiLlama.
Participants called farmers allocate disk space by storing large files known as plots. The network issues challenges, and a farmer who holds a matching proof of space can win the right to add the next block. A second component, proof of time, comes from timelords running a verifiable delay function, which paces block production and guards against manipulation. Combining the two ties security to allocated storage rather than electricity use.
Consensus: Proof of Space and Time
Participants called farmers allocate disk space by storing large files known as plots. The network issues challenges, and a farmer who holds a matching proof of space can win the right to add the next block. A second component, proof of time, comes from timelords running a verifiable delay function, which paces block production and guards against manipulation. Combining the two ties security to allocated storage rather than electricity use.
Plots
A plot is a large file of pre-computed data written to a hard drive. The more plotted space a farmer holds, the higher the chance of winning a block.
Farming
Farming is the act of responding to network challenges with stored proofs. It replaces mining and runs on existing storage rather than dedicated hardware.
Timelords
Timelords run a verifiable delay function to produce proofs of time. This keeps blocks arriving at a steady pace and adds the time element to consensus.
Halvings
The block reward is reduced on a schedule, with cuts every three years, gradually slowing the rate at which new XCH enters circulation.
Ecosystem & usage
What Chia is used for.
Chia supports a smart-transaction layer called Chialisp, and the project has positioned itself toward storage-based participation and asset issuance.
Storage-based participation
Anyone with spare disk space can farm XCH, which lowers the hardware barrier compared with networks that need specialized mining rigs.
Programmable transactions
Chialisp lets developers attach conditions to coins, supporting custom assets and on-chain logic.
Value transfer
XCH can be sent between accounts as the native unit used to pay for transactions on the network.
In Zypto App
Hold, swap and spend XCH.
Chia is integrated in Zypto App. Hold XCH in self-custody, swap it to any supported asset, and use it across Zypto’s features.
Chia secures the network with allocated disk space rather than computation. Participants farm by storing data, which uses far less energy than proof-of-work mining.
What are plots and farming?
Plots are large files written to a drive. Farming is responding to the network challenge with a stored proof, and farmers with more plotted space win blocks more often.
Who created Chia?
Chia was founded by Bram Cohen, the inventor of the BitTorrent protocol, and its mainnet launched in March 2021.
What is proof of time?
Proof of time is generated by timelords running a verifiable delay function. It paces block production and prevents a farmer from rushing ahead of the network.
Can I hold XCH in Zypto App?
Not yet. XCH isn't in Zypto App at the moment. You can hold it in any self-custodial wallet, and you can ask us to add Chia using the "Request Chia" button above.
