{"id":76429,"date":"2026-11-15T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-15T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mudrex.com\/learn\/?p=76429"},"modified":"2026-11-15T07:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-11-15T07:33:31","slug":"the-sui-network-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mudrex.com\/learn\/the-sui-network-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Sui Network Explained: Fundamentals, Fees & TPS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Sui Network is a Layer 1<\/a> blockchain designed to support scalable decentralized applications, low transaction fees and fast processing. First developed by Mysten Labs, Sui uses an object-centric architecture, the Sui Move programming language and parallel transaction execution to reduce unnecessary bottlenecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since its mainnet launch on May 3, 2023, Sui has attracted developers building DeFi platforms, blockchain games, payments and digital assets. Its architecture differs from conventional account-centric blockchains: assets and application data are represented as individual objects, helping the network identify transactions that can be processed independently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide explains Sui network fundamentals, including how the blockchain works, how its consensus operates, what Sui transaction fees cost, the meaning of Sui TPS, token supply and network usage as of November 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Sui Network and How Does It Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sui is a permissionless Layer 1 blockchain with its own validator network, transaction execution and smart-contract environment. Its key architectural building blocks include an object-based data model, programmable transaction blocks (PTBs), Sui Move and delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sui\u2019s Object-Centric Architecture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sui represents assets and data as objects with a unique identifier, version and ownership rules. Some objects are owned by a single address, while shared objects can be accessed by multiple users or applications. This distinction helps determine whether operations can be executed concurrently or need coordination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, two users transferring unrelated NFTs may have transactions that execute in parallel. By contrast, several traders interacting with the same liquidity pool can compete to update shared state and require ordered processing. Parallel execution increases efficiency, but it does not remove the need to coordinate conflicting updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Diagram
How Sui handles object-based transactions \u2014 An explanatory illustration, not a network performance benchmark.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Figure 1. How Sui handles object-based transactions \u2014 An explanatory illustration, not a network performance benchmark.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source \/ data basis: Official Sui transaction documentation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delegated Proof-of-Stake and Mysticeti Consensus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sui uses DPoS: validators stake SUI, and token holders can delegate to validators. Validator voting power reflects the stake associated with them. The consensus system must reach agreement on accepted transactions, and an epoch lasts approximately 24 hours on mainnet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sui uses Mysticeti, a directed acyclic graph (DAG)-based consensus protocol. Its design allows validators to propose blocks in parallel and reduces communication overhead. Low-latency benchmarks illustrate the design\u2019s potential but do not guarantee that every live user transaction completes in the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programmable Transaction Blocks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Programmable Transaction Blocks (PTBs) allow multiple actions to be combined into a single on-chain<\/a> transaction. A user could, for example, interact with a DeFi protocol and manage tokens within one atomic workflow. The operations either commit together or fail together, subject to transaction rules and execution limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Advantages of the Sui Network<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. High Throughput and Low Latency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sui aims to handle high transaction demand without requiring unrelated operations to execute one after another. In April 2023, the Sui team reported a peak throughput range of 10,871 to 297,000 transactions per second (TPS) on a test network containing 100 globally distributed validators. The result varied across test workloads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That 297,000 TPS figure is a controlled testnet benchmark, not Sui\u2019s sustained live mainnet throughput. This distinction matters when comparing Sui blockchain TPS with other networks, because different tests may count and measure transactions differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 7, 2026, Sui demonstrated more than 40 million transactions per second through Sui Tunnels. CertiK later verified a peak of 40,682,328 tunnel TPS. Tunnels execute individual actions off-chain and settle outcomes to Sui; the result is not a measurement of Sui base-layer on-chain TPS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"
Two different Sui throughput benchmarks \u2014 The reported results measure distinct workloads and execution environments; neither is sustained mainnet TPS.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source \/ data basis: 2023 Sui performance report; see also CertiK, 14 October 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent tunnel verification: CertiK report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Parallel Transaction Execution<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Because transactions involving independent objects can be processed simultaneously, Sui can use validator computing resources efficiently. This is especially relevant for high-frequency activity in gaming, digital collectibles and applications with many independent state changes. Operations that access the same shared object still face coordination and potential contention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Move Programming Language<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sui Move is a resource-oriented smart-contract language adapted for Sui\u2019s object model. It emphasizes explicit ownership and rules governing how digital assets can be transferred or modified. This helps developers build contracts involving tokens, NFTs and other on-chain resources without treating those assets as ordinary, freely copyable values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Move also supports modular code that developers can organize and reuse. Its language-level safeguards do not make every application immune to bugs: audits, testing and secure operational practices remain essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Cost Efficiency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sui separates computation and storage costs, using a reference computation gas price selected through validator coordination for each epoch. This can make fees more predictable than systems that rely only on continuously fluctuating fee auctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a comparison published on October 20, 2026, the Sui Foundation described average Sui transaction costs as being below $0.02. This was a foundation-published comparison, not an independently verified average for every day or transaction. Actual costs change with workload, storage use and fee conditions. A detailed explanation follows below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Robust Security Features<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Validators participate in securing the network and are rewarded according to the staking and validator incentive rules. Sui combines DPoS, cryptographic signatures, consensus agreement and resource-oriented smart contracts to help protect on-chain state. Security nevertheless depends on the correctness of applications, wallet custody and network infrastructure as well as the blockchain protocol itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sui Transaction Fees: Average Fees, Gas Costs and How They Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sui blockchain transaction fees are generally denominated in SUI. Fees depend on the computation required to execute an operation and the resources needed to store data on-chain. There is no permanent, universal average fee for every type of transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Are Sui Gas Fees Calculated?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A transaction\u2019s computation fee is based on computation units and the gas price. Its storage fee reflects storage units and the storage price. Eligible storage rebates can lower the final net payment when previously stored data is removed or changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Net transaction fee = computation fee + storage fee \u2212 applicable storage rebate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The precise accounting is detailed in Sui\u2019s gas documentation. The smallest SUI denomination is MIST: 1 SUI equals 1,000,000,000 MIST. A submitted gas budget limits what the transaction may spend; the budget is not necessarily the fee ultimately paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sui
Sui gas-fee components \u2014 Schematic of computation, storage and potential storage rebates.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source \/ data basis: Official Sui gas-fee documentation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Average Sui Transaction Fee?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Sui average transaction fee changes according to the activity observed and the measurement window. A basic transfer can be cheaper than a complex operation involving multiple contracts or data changes. The Sui Foundation reported a network average below $0.02 in October 2026, but that figure should not be presented as a fixed November 2026 network fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a current fee estimate, look at a transaction of the same type on a Sui explorer such as SuiVision or Suiscan. Compare actual gas amounts in SUI and note the relevant date and transaction complexity. A single explorer transaction is not a network-wide average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sui Average Transaction Fee in USD<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The dollar value of a fee is the amount of SUI charged multiplied by SUI\u2019s market price in USD at the time being examined. For example, a hypothetical 0.002 SUI fee at a hypothetical SUI price of $0.70 would cost $0.0014. This is an illustration, not the current average fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Sui Transaction Fees Rise During Congestion?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They can vary. Parallel processing reduces conflicts between unrelated transactions, but highly demanded shared objects can experience localized competition. Users can also choose a gas price above the reference level where applicable. Therefore low fees are a design objective rather than an unconditional guarantee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Gasless Transfers Available on Sui?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sui supports gasless transfers for protocol-allowlisted stablecoins under restricted transaction rules. Qualifying peer-to-peer transfers do not require the sender to hold SUI for gas. The protocol documentation states a minimum transfer amount of 0.01 units of the eligible stablecoin; transfers below this minimum do not execute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feature does not make every transaction free: ordinary SUI transfers, swaps, NFTs and unsupported smart-contract actions are outside these gasless transfer rules unless they use a separate sponsorship arrangement. Under congestion, gas-paying transactions may be prioritized over gasless stablecoin transfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sui Tokenomics: SUI Supply, Staking and Token Distribution<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SUI is the native token used for network gas fees, staking, participation in certain governance processes and use within Sui applications. It has a maximum supply of 10 billion tokens; the amount in circulation changes as scheduled allocations become available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Original SUI Token Allocation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The original allocation of the 10 billion SUI supply was: 50% community reserve, 20% early contributors, 14% investors, 10% Mysten Labs treasury, and 6% community access programs and app testers. These are original distribution categories, not a map of current ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"
Original SUI distribution \u2014 Historical token allocation, not current holdings or circulating supply.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source \/ data basis: Original token allocation documented in SEC filing<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUI Circulating Supply and Token Unlocks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Sui Foundation\u2019s official circulation API lists 4,139,043,544.13 SUI for November 2026, equal to approximately 41.39% of the 10 billion maximum supply. This monthly figure replaces the outdated 2.76 billion circulating-supply claim in the original article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not-yet-circulating tokens are scheduled for release under the project\u2019s published supply framework, which may be updated. Investors should monitor unlock schedules because additional liquid supply can affect market conditions. An unlock does not, by itself, prove immediate selling pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SUI
SUI circulation in November 2026 \u2014 Circulating versus not-yet-circulating portions of the fixed maximum supply.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source \/ data basis: Official SUI circulation API, November 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does Staking SUI Work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SUI holders may delegate tokens to validators participating in network consensus. Validator commission, performance, staking pool exchange rates and network reward rules can affect the amount earned. Rewards vary and should not be described as guaranteed investment returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sui\u2019s On-Chain Growth and Network Activity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Network activity is useful when assessing Sui fundamentals, but any individual metric has limitations. DeFi TVL, stablecoin capitalization, active addresses and transaction counts measure different aspects of activity and should not be treated as interchangeable indicators of investment demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DeFi Growth on Sui<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sui supports exchanges, lending protocols, staking applications and other forms of decentralized finance. Protocols such as Suilend, NAVI and DeepBook participate in different parts of this ecosystem. Total Value Locked (TVL) measures the value of assets recorded within covered DeFi protocols under a data provider\u2019s methodology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original blog described Sui nearing $1 billion in DeFi TVL during 2024; that was historical context, not a current market estimate. As of November 15, 2026, DefiLlama reported approximately $371.37 million in DeFi TVL and $544.13 million in stablecoin market capitalization on Sui. Its 24-hour DEX volume was approximately $42.31 million. These are separate measures and should not be added together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sui
November 2026 Sui DeFi metrics \u2014 Point-in-time values; not a historical growth chart.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source \/ data basis: DefiLlama Sui dashboard, 15 November 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daily Active Addresses on Sui<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Active addresses count blockchain addresses observed participating in transactions or activity, depending on the provider\u2019s definition. They are not the same as unique human users: one person can operate several addresses, and bots also participate in blockchain activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DefiLlama reported 70,268 active addresses in its 24-hour Sui snapshot on November 15, 2026. The original article\u2019s 2024 claim of growth from 488,000 to 1.4 million referred to a different dated period and should not be reused as if it were current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"
Sui active addresses \u2014 One-day snapshot rather than a trend or unique-user count.<\/em>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source \/ data basis: DefiLlama Sui dashboard, 15 November 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daily Transactions on the Sui Network<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Daily transaction counts provide another view of network activity. They may include activity from applications and automated processes, and their interpretation depends on the data provider\u2019s counting methodology. They must not be confused with a sustained transactions-per-second benchmark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DefiLlama\u2019s 24-hour network snapshot on November 15, 2026 displayed approximately 73.39 million transactions. This replaces the original article\u2019s undated comparison of 3.6 million versus 17.4 million daily transactions, which reflected activity in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"73.39
Sui daily transaction snapshot \u2014 A 24-hour count from one provider, not a TPS performance test.<\/em>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source \/ data basis: DefiLlama Sui dashboard, 15 November 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do These Metrics Mean for SUI Price?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Higher application use can contribute to fee demand, staking activity and a larger ecosystem. Yet token price depends on additional forces such as circulating supply, liquidity, broader market sentiment and risk appetite. Network usage does not establish that the SUI token will appreciate. Historical price gains or comparisons with Bitcoin should always include the measurement period and verified price source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also Read: Is Sui Coin a good Investment?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risks and Challenges Facing the Sui Network<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n