Tezos is a blockchain network that operates on smart contracts, much like Ethereum. The primary distinction between the two is that Tezos strives to provide more advanced infrastructure that can evolve and enhance over time without the risk of a hard fork. This is unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum, which have both experienced this issue since their creation. XTZ holders have the ability to vote on Tezos developers' protocol upgrade proposals.

Tezos is a secure and upgradable open-source platform that boasts a smart contract language capable of handling high-value use cases. Its design allows it to remain state-of-the-art for years to come and embrace advances in blockchain technology. The initial white paper for Tezos was published in September of 2014 and, despite several setbacks, the network officially launched four years later.

The original author of the Tezos white paper is Arthur Breitman. Interestingly enough, he used the pen name L. M. Goodman, similar to Satoshi Nakamoto. Breitman believed that Bitcoin's lack of a governance process hindered contributions from the community and prevented new tokens from being issued through the blockchain. To address these issues, he founded a startup called Dynamic Ledger Solutions with his wife Kathleen, which was eventually acquired by the Tezos Foundation to secure intellectual property rights of the network.

The way Tezos involves its participants in the governance process is quite unique. Instead of traditional staking, users can participate in “baking” by staking 8,000 XTZ, which provides a financial incentive to act honestly. Bakers then vote on proposed changes to the blockchain's code in a four-step procedure that takes about 23 days. Proposals that receive support from the majority of participants are tested on a testnet for 48 hours and are implemented if they are backed by a super-majority. Tezos is also gaining popularity among high-profile businesses. For instance, the French banking giant Societe Generale announced plans to use Tezos for experimenting with a central bank digital currency.

Tezos' native token, XTZ, serves multiple purposes on the blockchain. It can be used to access decentralized applications, pay transaction fees, stake for network security, and acts as a fundamental accounting unit on the Tezos platform.

Tezos, like many blockchains, utilizes a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. Validators can participate in maintaining the network's integrity by making a security deposit. Those who act in the best interests of the blockchain are rewarded, while those who act dishonestly risk losing their stake. This incentivizes honest behavior and helps ensure the smooth running of the network.