ARK is the native asset of the ARK Public Network, a delegated-proof-of-stake blockchain launched in 2017. The network uses 51 active delegates and an eight-second block time. ARK also develops ARK Core, an open-source framework for building custom blockchain networks. SmartBridge is a message and interoperability design; it should not be treated as an automatic, universal asset bridge between arbitrary chains.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | ARK |
| Price | $0.2243 |
| Market Cap | $44,854,533 |
| 24h Change | +27.6% |
| Circulating Supply | 199.955M ARK |
| Max Supply | No fixed maximum supply |
CoinGecko price, market cap, and 24-hour change fields refresh automatically. Supply figures checked 2026-10-23.
Network and Development Framework
The ARK Public Network is a standalone blockchain. Its public documentation describes ARK Core as software that can be used to run blockchain infrastructure and transactions. The framework and the public network are related but distinct: launching a custom ARK Core network does not, by itself, mean that every external blockchain can communicate with it.
Delegates and SmartBridge
ARK uses delegated proof of stake. A holder can assign voting weight to a delegate without sending or locking the coins; the active delegates produce blocks and receive block rewards and transaction fees. Reward sharing is optional and depends on each delegate’s terms.
ARK’s SmartBridge materials describe messages carried in the transaction vendor field and interpreted by compatible listener software. That can support application-specific communication, but it does not make an arbitrary third-party chain a trustless bridge. Users must verify which network, software, and asset-transfer mechanism a particular integration actually uses.
ARK Tokenomics
Current ARK documentation states that each eight-second block creates 2 ARK for the delegate that forges it, plus the transaction fees in that block. The documentation says this reward does not halve. CoinGecko currently lists no fixed maximum supply and reports about 199.955 million ARK circulating in the snapshot above. The ongoing block reward means supply continues to expand; delegate reward sharing is optional and varies by delegate.
Reading the Market Data
The table follows CoinGecko’s ARK listing. Price and market-cap fields can refresh automatically; the supply figures reflect the snapshot checked on 2026-10-23. Market-price movement alone does not show network usage or the security of any bridge integration.
Related Terms
- Blockchain — explains the ledger infrastructure that ARK operates.
- Delegated Proof of Stake — defines the consensus model used by ARK’s public network.
- Interoperability — covers the cross-network communication problem ARK’s tools address.
See Also
- How Do Crypto Bridges Work — And Why Are They Such a Hack Target? — explains bridge architectures and the need to verify the exact trust model.
- Are Layer 2 Networks Actually Decentralized? — compares the design choices of blockchain networks and scaling systems.
- Does Ethereum TPS Include Layer 2 Transactions? — clarifies how network throughput figures differ across architectures.
- ChangeNOW — Check supported assets, networks, and local availability before using this third-party service.
Sources
- ARK documentation: staking and block rewards — states the 51-delegate model, eight-second blocks, 2 ARK reward, voting without coin lockup, and no halving.
- ARK documentation: transaction vendor field — describes the public vendor field used by SmartBridge messages.
- ARK Ecosystem Whitepaper — describes the intended SmartBridge and ARK Core interoperability architecture.
- CoinGecko ARK market and supply page — identifies the ARK API ID and reports current price and supply statistics.