Fogo is a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain designed to serve professional and high-frequency crypto traders. It focuses on delivering ultra-low latency, high-speed infrastructure tailored for modern trading environments. Unlike general-purpose blockchains, Fogo is built with the specific goal of minimising the delays, inefficiencies, and vulnerabilities that traders face on conventional chains. Its standout features include sub-40ms block times, near-instant confirmations, and a custom validator setup strategically located near major financial centres.
Fogo operates as an SVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain, meaning it supports the Solana Virtual Machine, allowing existing Solana applications and tools to function with minimal adjustments. Its execution environment and underlying client software—called Fogo Core—is a customised version of Firedancer, a performance-focused validator client.
A unique component of Fogo’s architecture is its Colocation Consensus model. Validators are physically colocated near key exchanges in regions like Tokyo to drastically reduce network latency. These are backed by globally distributed secondary locations to maintain resilience. While the exact consensus algorithm is not disclosed, the infrastructure is clearly built to prioritise throughput, speed, and uptime for trading applications.
Fogo’s smart contract environment supports Solana-compatible applications and is set to host its own suite of optimised trading tools known as “The Arsenal,” developed specifically for low-latency, gas-efficient trading.
Fogo’s primary use cases revolve around high-performance trading infrastructure. Key applications include:
The upcoming suite of applications, “The Arsenal,” is positioned to bring professional-grade execution tools directly to the Fogo chain.
Fogo was developed with the mission of creating a blockchain “by traders, for traders.” The chain is purpose-built rather than forked from an existing protocol, and it reflects lessons learned from the shortcomings of existing infrastructure in latency-sensitive environments.
Its key technical milestone is the development of Fogo Core, a customised Firedancer-based validator client, and the deployment of low-latency validator infrastructure in Tokyo, with backup validators in New York and London. Currently, Fogo is positioning itself as a serious, performance-first platform for trading-focused users.