Hedera is a layer 1 public network that utilizes hashgraph consensus for fast, fair, and secure transactions. Hedera offers an optimized version of the Besu EVM for smart contracts, alongside native tokenization and high-throughput data writing and verification services. The Hedera developer community contributes to the network's evolution via Hedera Improvement Proposals (HIPs); the network is governed by a decentralized council of global organizations, including enterprise companies, established web3 projects, and universities.