What is Adaptive State Sharding?

Adaptive State Sharding is the consensus and scaling mechanism used by MultiversX (formerly Elrond), which dynamically partitions the network, transactions, and state across multiple shards. The system implements three types of sharding simultaneously: network sharding (dividing nodes into groups), transaction sharding (routing transactions to appropriate shards), and state sharding (splitting the blockchain state so each shard stores only its portion). What makes it "adaptive" is the ability to split or merge shards based on network usage and the number of available validators. Each shard runs its own modified version of practical BFT consensus called Secure Proof of Stake (SPoS), which uses a BLS-based random selection process to choose block proposers and validators for each round.

Adaptive State Sharding enables MultiversX to scale throughput linearly by adding more shards, with each shard processing transactions in parallel. The network achieves block times of approximately 6 seconds with fast finality within each shard. Cross-shard transactions are handled through an asynchronous communication protocol that ensures atomicity — either the entire cross-shard transaction completes or it is rolled back. The SPoS consensus within each shard uses a verifiable random function to unpredictably select the block proposer and validation group for each round, preventing adversaries from predicting and targeting upcoming leaders. Validators are periodically shuffled between shards to prevent collusion, with only a fraction being reassigned at each epoch to maintain shard continuity.

Adaptive State Sharding has been running on the MultiversX mainnet (originally launched as Elrond in July 2020). The network typically operates with three execution shards plus a metachain that coordinates cross-shard operations and manages validator assignments. MultiversX was founded by Beniamin and Lucian Mincu along with their team in Romania, and was one of the first blockchain projects to implement a working state sharding solution on mainnet. The project rebranded from Elrond to MultiversX in late 2022 as it expanded its focus toward metaverse and Web3 applications while maintaining its core scaling architecture.