CKB is the Layer 1 blockchain of the Nervos Network. It is a decentralized, Proof-of-Work chain designed to be the secure settlement layer for a multi-layer blockchain ecosystem.
- Bitcoin-isomorphic — Uses PoW and a generalized UTXO model (called the Cell Model), making it structurally similar to Bitcoin while adding full programmability.
- RISC-V VM — Smart contracts run on CKB-VM, a virtual machine based on the RISC-V instruction set. Any language that compiles to RISC-V can be used.
- Crypto-agnostic — No cryptographic primitives are hardcoded. You can deploy any signature scheme or hash function as an on-chain library.
- Protocol-level account abstraction — Works out of the box. No workarounds needed.
- Modular by design — CKB handles security and decentralization; Layer 2 networks built on top handle scale.
The Cell Model is a generalization of Bitcoin's UTXO. Every piece of state on CKB lives in a cell. Cells hold data and are locked by scripts (smart contracts). Transactions consume cells and produce new ones.
- Lock Script — Controls who can spend a cell (like a Bitcoin locking script).
- Type Script — Enforces rules on how a cell's data can change.
- 1 CKB = 1 byte of on-chain storage capacity.
- To store state on CKB, you must hold CKBytes. This ties token value directly to network usage.
| Protocol | Description |
|---|---|
| RGB++ | Extends Bitcoin's RGB protocol using CKB for smart contract execution |
| UTXO Stack | Framework for launching Bitcoin-compatible Layer 2 chains |
| CKB Lightning Network | Fast, low-cost off-chain payments |
Languages supported: Rust, C, JavaScript (via ckb-js-toolkit), and any RISC-V–compatible language.
Key tools:
ckb-cli— Command-line interfaceCapsule— Smart contract development framework (Rust)Lumos— JavaScript/TypeScript SDK- CKB Explorer — Block explorer
Docs: docs.nervos.org
- Website: nervos.org
- GitHub: github.com/nervosnetwork
- CKB Whitepaper: rfcs/0002-ckb
- Knowledge Base: nervos.org/knowledge-base