Subnet
A customizable, independent network of validators that can run its own blockchain with its own rules, created within a broader platform architecture like Avalanche.
A subnet is a customizable, independent network of validators that operates its own blockchain with its own specific rules — such as its own token, validator requirements, and governance — created within a broader platform architecture, an approach popularized by Avalanche. Validators can choose which subnets to participate in, and a given subnet's rules, including which assets are used for staking and fees, can be configured independently of the platform's primary network.
This lets different applications or use cases run on a subnet specifically tailored to their needs — such as particular regulatory compliance requirements, specialized virtual machines, or dedicated throughput — without being constrained by the primary network's shared, one-size-fits-all rules, while still benefiting from interoperability with other subnets and the platform's broader ecosystem. This general approach shares conceptual similarities with other application-specific chain architectures, such as an app-chain (see Kaavon's "App-Chain" glossary definition) or a parachain (see Kaavon's "Parachain" glossary definition), each reflecting a different specific implementation of the same underlying idea.
Examples
- A project needing specific regulatory compliance features or specialized performance characteristics might launch its own subnet, configuring its own validator and token rules independently of the primary network.
- Validators can choose which subnets to participate in, meaning a given subnet's validator set can be entirely different from the platform's primary network validator set.