PulseChain Review 2026: An Ethereum Fork With a Fee-Burn Model

PulseChain is a layer-1 blockchain that launched its mainnet in late 2023. It was built as a full-state hard fork of Ethereum, which means it started with the same accounts, tokens and smart contracts that existed on Ethereum at the time of the fork. Its native token is PLS, and the project is closely linked to the HEX project.

The network is pitched as faster and more energy efficient than Ethereum, with a fee-burning design. Several third-party write-ups also describe a native wallet app and a set of decentralized applications and tokens built on the chain. Bridge services list PulseChain as a supported network, which is how most users would move assets to and from other chains.

The project has a contested history. Public commentary has focused on the links to HEX, the governance of the network and the design of some tokens that trade on it. Readers should weigh those points alongside the technical claims.

PulseChain is a blockchain that runs its own validators and records transactions in blocks, much like other layer-1 networks. Because it began as a full-state fork of Ethereum, the network started with the same accounts, token balances and smart contracts that existed on Ethereum at the time of the fork. Users interact with it through wallets and apps that connect to the PulseChain network, and transactions are paid for in PLS.

The main design claim is that PulseChain is faster and more energy efficient than Ethereum, and that part of the fees paid on the network are burned. Burning removes tokens from circulation, so the effect on supply depends on how much the network is used. The exact mechanics are set by the chain's own specification and should be checked there.

For a newcomer, the key idea is that PulseChain is a separate network that shares Ethereum's history at the moment of the fork. Assets on Ethereum do not automatically move to PulseChain. They are moved through a bridge or similar service, and each one adds its own contracts and risks.

PulseChain does not publish a full fee schedule in the material behind this page. Several sources describe a fee-burning design, but the amount of each transaction fee, the burn rate and any network-level costs are not set out in one place. Users would see the actual fee for each transaction in their wallet before they confirm it. Bridge services that move assets to and from PulseChain charge their own fees on top of network fees, and those are shown inside each bridge's interface.

PulseChain is a young network with a contested early history. Security depends on the chain's validators, the smart contracts used by apps and bridges, and the wallet a user chooses. Bridges and forked stablecoins carry extra counterparty and smart contract risk, and several third-party reports highlight the risk of thin liquidity and forked tokens.

The sources behind this page do not describe a published third-party security audit or a formal custody model for the chain itself. Regulatory status varies by country, and users should check local rules and tax treatment before buying or holding PLS.

Crypto is not suitable for everyone. Only use money you can afford to lose, and keep your seed phrase offline.

PulseChain is aimed at experienced crypto users who understand Ethereum tooling, wallets and bridges, and who are comfortable with the risks of a young, disputed network. It is less suited to beginners who want clear fee schedules, published audits or a long operating track record.