Overview
Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain built by Aptos Labs, founded by Mo Shaikh and Avery Ching, former engineers on Meta’s Diem project. Its main network launched in October 2022.
Like Sui, Aptos uses the Move programming language, originally created at Meta, which treats digital assets as objects that can’t be copied or lost by accident.
How it works
- Block-STM runs transactions in parallel and automatically handles conflicts, allowing high throughput.
- Transactions are final in under a second, with low fees.
- Proof of stake: validators stake APT to secure the network.
Institutional use
Aptos has attracted traditional finance: BlackRock’s BUIDL tokenized money-market fund and Franklin Templeton’s BENJI run on Aptos, among others. Bitwise filed for a US spot APT ETF in 2025, and runs an Aptos staking product in Europe; the US ETF had not been approved in our sources.
The APT token
| APT at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Total supply | about 1.21 billion APT |
| In circulation (Oct 2026) | about 884 million |
| Price (29 Oct 2026) | about $0.69 |
| All-time high | about $19.92 (January 2023) |
| Market cap | about $610 million (#96) |
APT has been weighed down by monthly unlocks for early investors and the team. The Aptos Foundation has proposed locking part of its own holdings to reduce selling pressure.
Risks
- Low usage. Despite institutions using it for funds, Aptos DeFi holds under $50 million (DeFiLlama).
- Unlocks. New APT keeps entering the market.
- Competition. Sui, built by another ex-Diem team, has grown faster; Solana dominates consumer activity.
Aptos vs. the competition
| Aptos | Sui | Solana | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Move | Move | Rust |
| Founders | Ex-Meta Diem (Aptos Labs) | Ex-Meta Diem (Mysten Labs) | Anatoly Yakovenko |
| Big institutional use | BUIDL, BENJI | USDsui, ETFs | Visa, Stripe, ETFs |
Our verdict
Aptos has strong technology and real institutional users, but everyday activity is small and the token has suffered from unlocks. APT is a high-risk investment: invest only what you can afford to lose.
This review is for information only and is not financial advice.