1. Project Overview

Nillion is a permissionless network that provides secure data storage and computation for blockchains and AI. Nillion addresses the challenges associated with handling high-value data (e.g., data for AI agents, trading data) that is difficult or impossible to process securely using traditional blockchains. The network enables blind computation, which allows data to be stored and processed without revealing its contents, ensuring privacy and security.

2. Token Information

  • Token Name: $NIL

  • Token Type: Native Utility Token

  • Initial Supply: 195,150,000 (19.52% of the Genesis Total Supply)

  • Total Supply: 1,000,000,000

  • Maximum Token Supply: 1% yearly inflation, offset by deflation from network usage

  • Genesis Total Token Supply: 1,000,000,000

  • Launchpool Allocation: 3.5%

  • Additional Marketing Allocation: An additional 25,000,000 NIL will be allocated to other marketing campaigns on Binance 6 months after the spot listing.

3. Project Highlights

  • Secure Data Computation: Nillion enables decentralized AI and blockchain applications to handle and process private data securely using advanced privacy-preserving technologies.

  • Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs): The project uses Multi-Party Computation (MPC), Homomorphic Encryption, and Zero-Knowledge Proofs to secure data computation and storage across a decentralized infrastructure.

  • Innovative Ecosystem: Nillion’s platform supports multiple components like nilAI, nilDB, and nilVM, which are all designed to facilitate privacy-preserving AI, secure data storage, and private application development.

  • Token Utility: NIL serves various purposes including coordination network transactions, staking, governance participation, and accessing privacy-preserving computational services.

4. Token Utility

  • Coordination Network: NIL is used for transactions, accessing network resources, and settling usage costs within the Coordination Layer of the network.

  • Blind Computation: NIL grants developers and users access to advanced privacy-preserving computation services for applications.

  • Staking: Tokenholders can stake NIL tokens to support network security and earn rewards. Validators bond tokens to validate transactions and computations.

  • Governance: NIL tokenholders can participate in decentralized governance, influencing protocol upgrades, network parameters, and resource allocation.

5. Nillion Network Structure

Nillion operates through two main layers:

  • Petnet Layer: Enables blind computation by processing data without revealing its content, ensuring privacy and security for sensitive data.

  • Coordination Layer: Acts as the network’s transactional backbone, managing payments, resource allocation, and requests between network participants.

The network uses CometBFT (a fork of Tendermint) for consensus and Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) for validator selection. Validators can participate by self-bonding tokens and receiving delegated tokens, securing the network's integrity.

6. Existing Products

  • nilAI: A privacy-focused AI toolkit including AIVM and nilTEEs for larger model inference, and nada-AI for federated learning and small-scale inference.

  • nilDB: A distributed NoSQL database that stores sensitive data securely while maintaining privacy, utilizing a secret share approach across nodes.

  • nilVM: A platform for developing privacy-preserving applications with a Python-based DSL, including the DeSig SDK for private key management and cross-chain operations.

7. Funding and Token Metrics

Nillion has raised $52.7 million through three funding rounds. As of March 20, 2025, the circulating supply upon listing will be 195,150,000 NIL, which represents 19.52% of the total token supply. This distribution, along with future marketing and staking programs, will help drive network growth and adoption.

8. Conclusion

Nillion is positioning itself as a key player in the Web3 space by providing secure data storage and computation for sensitive information. Its innovative approach to blind computation and privacy-enhancing technologies makes it an attractive solution for developers in the AI and blockchain sectors who require privacy and security in their applications. With a robust product ecosystem, a well-structured token utility model, and strong funding support, Nillion is poised to have a significant impact on the evolution of decentralized computing and data management.