Native Gas Token (Custom Gas Token Support)

Summary: On ADI chain, the primary means of exchange for transaction fees and validator payments is the ADI token rather than ETH. This is made possible via the Custom Gas Token (CGT) feature, offered by ADI Chain’s zkStack architecture.

This provides a simplified user experience, as users only need one token, ADI, to interact with the ADI Chain ecosystem. Additionally, CGT’s flexibility enables adherence to regulatory requirements by allowing custom tokens to be used in specific situations.

One notable feature of ADI Network is the use of a native token for gas fees. Instead of requiring ETH (Ethereum’s token) to pay transaction fees, ADI Network allows fees to be paid in the ADI token by default. This is powered by the Custom Gas Token (CGT) capability in the zkStack architecture. The L2 protocol has been configured such that the unit of gas is priced in ADI, and validators (provers, sequencer) are compensated in ADI token for including and proving transactions. The on-chain ADI Bridge and gas accounting contracts handle conversion or pricing logic to ensure that the fees paid in ADI token are sufficient to cover the equivalent Ethereum costs (since, ultimately, some cost is incurred on L1 for proofs and data).

From a user experience standpoint, this means users only need ADI tokens to use ADI Network – they do not also have to manage ETH for gas. This dramatically simplifies onboarding for users who access blockchain services through ADI’s ecosystem (for example, a citizen using a government service on the ADI Network might only have an ADI wallet with local currency-pegged tokens and ADI governance tokens). It also enables stablecoin-based fees or other custom tokens in the future: ADI’s framework could designate a stable token (e.g., a Dirham stablecoin AEDC) as the gas token if desired, through the same CGT mechanism.

In summary, ADI Network’s native gas token support enhances usability and flexibility, allowing the ecosystem to function primarily with its token economy and enabling custom fee token scenarios that align with local requirements (e.g., fees payable in a national stablecoin for government services). It’s a powerful example of ADI’s modular design in action, made possible by the zkStack’s native support for custom gas assets.