ARK is the native cryptocurrency to the ARK Public Network (APN). ARK claims to be the ‘simplest way to blockchain’, by being a cryptocurrency and blockchain-based development platform allowing anyone to create their own fully customisable and interoperable blockchain. Found in 2016, the ARK ecosystem consists of an open-source blockchain technology stack written in the TypeScript programming language. ARK promotes a ‘plug and play’ method that allows full customisation in blockchain creation. Developers can use ARK’s consensus model, technology stack and custom transactions. ARK aims to solve the difficulty of working with blockchain technology and applying the technology to various use cases. The ARK Core Framework aims to give developers easier access to blockchain technology. The ARK cryptocurrency runs on a delegated Proof-of-Stake blockchain with 51 forging delegate slots and 8-second block times.