The Nakamoto coefficient is the smallest number of addresses that, combined, control more than half of all QRL — a plain-language decentralisation measure, drawn as one continuous line from the original Proof-of-Work chain into QRL 2.0. Higher is better (control is spread across more holders); a low number means a handful of wallets could dominate. Like the Gini it treats each address as distinct, so exchange and foundation wallets count as single entities.
Nakamoto Coefficient
Time range
Addresses to control >50%
FAQ about this chart
Common questions about this page+
What is the Nakamoto coefficient?
It is the smallest number of independent participants needed to control a majority of a resource — here, the fewest addresses whose balances together exceed 50% of all QRL. It is widely used to compare blockchain decentralisation: the higher the number, the more wallets it would take to collude to dominate the supply.
Is a higher or lower number better?
Higher is better. A high Nakamoto coefficient means control of the supply is spread across many holders, so no small group dominates. A low number means just a few wallets hold the majority — more centralised and, in a consensus context, riskier.
Why does this count addresses, not people or entities?
It is computed directly from on-chain balances, which are per-address. A single exchange or foundation wallet counts as one “holder” even though it may custody funds for many users, so the raw coefficient can understate true concentration. Pair it with the Gini coefficient and the entity-adjusted view on the distribution page.