Sharding is a technique used to help blockchains handle more transactions by splitting the network into smaller sections called “shards.” Each shard processes its own transactions and smart contracts independently, so instead of every node validating everything, the workload is spread out. This makes the network faster and more scalable.
Projects like Ethereum, NEAR, and Zilliqa are exploring or already using sharding to solve the scaling limitations that slow down traditional blockchains. While sharding greatly improves transaction speed and capacity, it also brings technical challenges—especially around security and how shards communicate with each other. Still, it’s seen as a major step toward making blockchains more efficient and ready for mass adoption.
