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What is the Contract Chain (C-Chain)?
What is the Contract Chain (C-Chain)?
Jay Kurahashi-Sofue avatar
Written by Jay Kurahashi-Sofue
Updated over a week ago

The Contract Chain, also known as the C-Chain, is a blockchain within the Avalanche® network. Avalanche aims to provide a highly scalable and interoperable ecosystem for decentralized applications (dApps) and blockchain development. The C-Chain is one of the blockchain components in the Avalanche network, specifically designed for running smart contracts that are compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

Here are some key features and details about the Contract Chain (C-Chain):

1. Smart Contracts: The C-Chain is primarily designed to support Ethereum-compatible smart contracts. This means that developers can write and deploy smart contracts using the same programming languages and tools they use on the Ethereum blockchain. This compatibility makes it easier for developers to migrate their existing Ethereum-based dApps to the Avalanche platform.

2. Total Ordering: The C-Chain is optimized for applications that require total ordering. Total ordering ensures that transactions are processed in a specific sequence, which can be important for applications like financial transactions or any other use case where the order of operations matters.

3. Avalanche Token (AVAX): AVAX is native to the Avalanche network. In the context of the C-Chain, you can find specific contract addresses related to AVAX tokens, both on the X-Chain and the C-Chain. These addresses are used for various purposes, including transferring and interacting with AVAX tokens on the respective chains.

4. Commutative Applications: Avalanche offers another blockchain called the Exchange Chain (X-Chain) that is more suitable for commutative applications, where the order of operations doesn't matter as much. The C-Chain is recommended for applications that need strict total ordering that stay constant.

NOTE: Avalanche addresses are case-sensitive, which means you need to be careful with the letter casing when using addresses to ensure transactions and interactions are correctly processed:

Avalanche (AVAX) token's addresses:


For any additional questions, please view our other knowledge base articles or contact a support team member via the chat button. Examples are for illustrative purposes only.

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