# chain/Core

Chain Core

Repository: https://github.com/chain/Core
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/chain-core
Homepage: https://chain.com
Language: Go
License: AGPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: blockchain
Last push: 2026-02-25T18:40:34+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 54/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 69, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3601, "days_push": 189, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1783, forks 357 (observed 2026-08-28T04:05:35.729418+00:00)

## What it is
Chain Core is a Go application for operating and connecting to permissioned blockchain networks conforming to the Chain Protocol, maintaining a cryptographically-secured multi-asset shared ledger for issuing and transferring digital assets. The Developer Edition is a free, open-source (AGPL-3.0) version for learning, experimenting, and prototyping locally on Mac, Windows, or Linux.

## Use cases
- run a local permissioned blockchain node
- issue and transfer digital assets on a shared ledger
- prototype a blockchain network before production
- connect to the public Chain testnet
- learn how the Chain Protocol works
- build a multi-asset ledger with a trusted issuer

## When to choose
- you need a permissioned, scalable blockchain rather than a public one
- you want to experiment with digital asset issuance locally for free
- you need a multi-asset ledger with interoperable asset formats
- you want to prototype against the Chain Protocol in Go

## When to avoid
- you need a public, permissionless blockchain like Ethereum or Bitcoin
- you want a hosted stablecoin payments API rather than self-run ledger software
- your project requires active community development - the project appears to be in maintenance mode
- you need smart contract programmability beyond asset issuance and transfer

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: maintenance
- function: blockchain, database, api-framework, http-server, cryptography
- domain: blockchain, fintech, microservices, developer-tools
- platform: windows, go, cross-platform
- tags: permissioned-blockchain, chain-protocol, digital-assets, multi-asset-ledger, developer-edition, distributed-ledger, cryptocurrency, macos, linux

## Member repositories
- chain/Core (main) score 54

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:35.729418+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:24:18.349176+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/chain/Core (fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:35.729418+00:00, sha 88bb2c831cf5)
  - homepage: https://chain.com (fetched 2026-08-29T11:02:56.782485+00:00, sha 460c91f6c2f4)
  - site_page: https://chain.com/documentation (fetched 2026-08-29T11:02:56.785401+00:00, sha 0b6721c7d045)
  - site_page: https://chain.com/documentation/authentication (fetched 2026-08-29T11:02:56.787466+00:00, sha b342584a9052)
  - site_page: https://chain.com/about (fetched 2026-08-29T11:02:56.789279+00:00, sha b58a80429c65)
  - site_page: https://chain.com/documentation/payments (fetched 2026-08-29T11:02:56.791252+00:00, sha 1c5753c32d38)
  - site_page: https://chain.com/documentation/cards (fetched 2026-08-29T11:02:56.793612+00:00, sha 794d0eb135db)
  - site_page: https://chain.com/documentation/wallets (fetched 2026-08-29T11:02:56.795505+00:00, sha 99cb5bf08dc4)
  - site_page: https://chain.com/documentation/webhooks (fetched 2026-08-29T11:02:56.797346+00:00, sha 9459a916586a)
  - site_page: https://chain.com/documentation/sdks (fetched 2026-08-29T11:02:56.799471+00:00, sha aa0ab4939e05)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.