Xelis (XEL)
17/04/2026
Xelis (XEL) is a privacy-focused Layer-1 cryptocurrency built from scratch in Rust. It combines a Proof-of-Work BlockDAG, fully encrypted balances and transfer amounts via homomorphic encryption, and native smart contracts. Mainnet launched on April 20, 2024, under the pseudonymous lead developer Slixe.
Key facts
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | XEL |
| Algorithm | XelisHash v3 |
| Consensus | Proof-of-Work on a BlockDAG |
| Block time | ~5 seconds |
| Max supply | 18,400,000 XEL |
| Emission | Smooth decay, no halvings |
| Dev fee | 10% until block 3,249,999, then 5% |
| Mainnet launch | April 20, 2024 |
What makes Xelis different
- Homomorphic encryption (ElGamal) + zero-knowledge proofs. Balances and transfer amounts are encrypted on-chain but still verifiable by the network — no decryption needed to validate. This is architecturally distinct from Monero (ring signatures / RingCT) and Zcash (zk-SNARKs with shielded pools).
- BlockDAG, not a linear chain. Multiple valid blocks can coexist at the same height; conflicts are resolved by DAG ordering rather than discarded as orphans.
- Native smart contracts. The XVM (XELIS Virtual Machine) and the Rust-inspired Silex language went live on mainnet with the December 13, 2025 upgrade.
Mining Xelis
XelisHash v3 replaced v2 on December 13, 2025. It is designed to be CPU/GPU-friendly and ASIC/FPGA-resistant. In practice, GPU mining dominates — at least 6 GB of VRAM is required. Recommended miners:
- Rigel — NVIDIA
- SRBMiner — AMD
Modern cards like the RTX 3060 12 GB, 3070/3080/3090, 4070/4080/4090, RX 6700 XT and above, and RX 7900 XT/XTX all handle XelisHash v3 well. Because XEL's market cap is small, mining profitability is highly sensitive to price — check current rates before committing hardware.
