> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://shardstarter-io.gitbook.io/shardstarter/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://shardstarter-io.gitbook.io/shardstarter/why-shardeum.md). # Why Shardeum? We frequently evaluate and provide advice to startups, and one of the biggest challenges these projects face is selecting a blockchain that will be well-received by their community. Our team at ShardStarter has a deep understanding of the technical needs of a project and can guide founders towards the best solution. We are particularly excited about the potential for projects to build on the Shardeum, as it is a smart contract platform that utilizes the Ethereum Virtual Machine and can scale linearly. It offers permanently low transaction fees while preserving true decentralization and strong security through the use of dynamic state sharding. This implies that Any dApp that can run on the Ethereum Virtual Machine will seamlessly run on Shardeum. Hence offering not only fast and inexpensive transactions, but also the ability to interoperate with other major Layer 1 & Layer 2 chains. Further, This will enable founders to focus on what they do best: building their project, without worrying about logistics on multiple chains --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://shardstarter-io.gitbook.io/shardstarter/why-shardeum.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.