Shardeum, the Layer 1 blockchain project co-initiated by WazirX founder Nischal Shetty, has officially pinpointed May 5, 2025, for its much-anticipated token generation event (TGE).
The project announced the firm launch date via social media on April 17, promising further information regarding its SHM token’s airdrop distribution, potential token sale details, and exchange listings in the near future. This confirmation signals a significant milestone for Shardeum, which previously adjusted its mainnet debut schedule multiple times.
This Just In ➡️ Shardeum TGE ➡️ 05.05.2025
More details regarding airdrop, token sale [$SHM] allocation & listing will be announced soon 🎊
Stay tuned! [pic.twitter.com/mpLjbnJSaM]
— Shardeum (@shardeum) April 16, 2025
Earlier plans had set the launch for April 15, but Shardeum opted for a May timeline, communicated in an April 10 update. The team attributed the postponement to unfavorable market conditions, emphasizing that the underlying technology was deployment-ready but a strategic delay aimed to foster a more robust market entry.
Navigating volatile market sentiment is a common challenge for new crypto token launches seeking optimal initial traction. Shardeum’s decision reflects a cautious approach prioritize long-term success over adhering strictly to earlier timelines.
The upcoming launch is the culmination of an extensive development period featuring several testnet phases, including “Liberty,” “Sphinx,” and the incentivized “Atomium” network. These phases were crucial for evaluating the platform’s scalability and fostering community involvement. Shardeum reported impressive testnet figures, exceeding 171,000 validators and processing over 81 million transactions.
Despite these technical achievements, the project reportedly experienced some internal shifts over the past year, with several employees departing. However, Shardeum asserts its leadership structure is robust, highlighted by the recent appointment of Srinivasan Parthasarathy as Chief Technology Officer.
To recognize its early community, Shardeum is rolling out a multi-stage airdrop program. The initial phase targets developers, community contributors, and validators, distributing over 3.6 million SHM tokens. Subsequent phases will reward participants from the incentivized testnet and mainnet launch activities.
The native SHM token is designed to be integral to the network, facilitating governance decisions, enabling staking, and serving as the currency for gas fees. Shardeum plans implement a deflationary mechanism by burning all transaction fees collected on the network. The maximum supply of SHM is fixed at 508 million, with more than half designated for community allocation.