Mina is a lightweight blockchain protocol that uses zero-knowledge proofs to maintain a constant size of 22 KB, enabling decentralized applications with privacy and scalability.
Description: Mina Protocol is a decentralized cryptocurrency and smart contract platform that aims to solve the blockchain trilemma by maintaining a constant size of around 22 KB, regardless of the number of transactions. It uses recursive zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs) to compress the entire blockchain history into a single proof, allowing anyone to verify the network's state without downloading the full chain. This makes Mina accessible on mobile devices and enables private, verifiable applications. The native token, MINA, is used for transaction fees, staking, and securing the network through proof-of-stake consensus. Launched in 2021, Mina was founded by Evan Shapiro and Izaak Meckler, and is developed by the Mina Foundation and O(1) Labs. Its headquarters are in San Francisco, California, USA.