Hedera (HBAR) is a public network that leverages the hashgraph consensus algorithm to enable fast, fair, and secure transactions. Unlike traditional blockchain technology, Hedera doesn't form a single chain of blocks but instead weaves all transactions into a single whole, ensuring that no data is discarded. This innovative approach allows Hedera to process hundreds of thousands of transactions per second, with consensus latency measured in seconds, making it one of the most efficient and scalable platforms in the distributed ledger space.

The vision of Hedera is to create a trusted, secure, and empowered digital future for all. Its mission revolves around building a safe and private digital community where users can interact with confidence. Hedera aims to provide a platform where individuals can work, play, buy, sell, create, and engage socially with safety and privacy. The emphasis on trust, security, and empowerment reflects Hedera's commitment to fostering a positive digital environment for all users.

Hedera was founded in 2017 by American technologists Leemon Baird and Mance Harmon, who also launched Swirlds Labs. Both founders possess extensive experience in the software development and tech industry, with expertise spanning AI, security, defense, identity, and more. As of August 2023, the Hedera network processes 66,670,036 transactions per day, with an average transaction time of 5.64 seconds.

Whitepaper: https://hedera.com/hh_whitepaper_v2.1-20200815.pdf

Official website: https://hedera.com/

Hedera leverages the hashgraph consensus algorithm to enable a decentralized network capable of processing hundreds of thousands of transactions per second. Unlike traditional blockchain, where blocks can be discarded, Hedera incorporates every container of transactions into the ledger, ensuring efficiency and fairness. The system's asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerance (aBFT) provides robust security, including resilience to Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, and ensures fair access and ordering of transactions.

The governance of Hedera is overseen by a council of up to 39 leading global enterprises, reflecting a diverse range of industries and geographies. This decentralized governance structure ensures that no single member has control, and no small group can exert undue influence. Stability is further ensured through technical controls that validate the pedigree of the ledger and legal controls that prevent unauthorized forks, providing a stable platform for mainstream adoption.

Hedera also emphasizes regulatory compliance, with features like controlled mutability of the network state and the ability to attach additional data to transactions. These features enable compliance with regulations like GDPR and facilitate Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti Money Laundering (AML) checks. While not open source, Hedera's code is publicly available for review, ensuring transparency and stability through the defensive use of hashgraph software patents.

HBAR is the native token of Hedera, used to power the network and enable various functionalities. HBAR has a hard cap maximum supply of 50 billion. At the moment, there are 32.5 billion HBAR tokens in circulation.

- Transaction Fees: HBAR is used to pay for transaction fees on the network, ensuring that users contribute to the network's maintenance. The cost per HBAR transaction to be very small, around $0.0001 USD

- Network Security: HBAR tokens are staked by nodes to secure the network, providing incentives for honest behavior.

- Smart Contracts and Decentralized Applications (DApps): Developers can use HBAR to build and deploy smart contracts and DApps on the Hedera network.

- Governance: HBAR also plays a role in governance, allowing token holders to have a say in network decisions.

Hedera represents a significant evolution in the field of distributed ledger technology. By leveraging the hashgraph algorithm, it offers unparalleled performance, security, and fairness. The HBAR token, as an integral part of the ecosystem, facilitates transactions, security, and development on the platform.

It's important to note that like any other cryptocurrencies, Hedera carries its own risks and it's always wise to do your own research and exercise caution while investing.