Flare in Plain English: The Future of Connected Blockchains
- Lucas Boyd
- Sep 12
- 3 min read
If you’ve been around crypto for a while, you’ve probably heard that blockchains are powerful but often stuck in their own little worlds. They don’t always play nice with each other, and bringing in real-world information (like prices or events) can be messy.
That’s where Flare steps in. Flare is a new type of blockchain designed to connect other blockchains and the real world in a secure, decentralized way. Think of it as a bridge-builder for the blockchain universe.
What Makes Flare Different?
Flare is a Layer 1 blockchain (meaning it’s its own foundation, not built on top of another chain). It uses the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), so it’s familiar to developers who already know Ethereum.
But the real magic comes from two built-in tools:
The State Connector
This lets Flare pull in data from other blockchains.
Example: Flare can confirm whether a transaction really happened on Bitcoin or Ethereum, and bring that info into its own network.
The Flare Time Series Oracle (FTSO)
This pulls in real-world data like crypto prices or market indexes.
It does this in a decentralized way, so no single person or company controls the feed.
Together, these tools make Flare a hub where apps can use data from anywhere — other blockchains, real-world markets, even things like sports scores or weather in the future.
The FLR Token
Every blockchain needs a token, and Flare’s is called FLR. Here’s what it does:
Transaction Fees – Just like Ethereum uses gas, FLR is used to prevent spam and keep the network running smoothly.
Collateral – FLR can be locked into applications to back up value or secure agreements.
Governance – Holders of FLR get to vote on important network decisions.
Rewards – FLR holders can delegate their tokens to data providers and earn rewards when those providers supply accurate information to the FTSO.
There’s also a wrapped version called WFLR, which makes it easier to use FLR in smart contracts, delegation, and governance.
How Does Flare Stay Secure?
Flare uses proof of stake (validators lock up FLR to help secure the network) combined with Avalanche consensus, a system known for being fast and scalable.
In short: the more skin validators have in the game, the harder it is for bad actors to mess things up.
Governance and the Flare Foundation
Flare isn’t run by one company. Instead, decisions are made by FLR holders through governance votes. Proposals can come from the Flare Foundation or from the community itself (via Flare’s testing ground called Songbird).
The Flare Foundation, based in the Netherlands, helps grow the ecosystem through grants, partnerships, and research. They were allocated tokens at launch but get them gradually over time to stay aligned with the community.
Why Flare Matters
Most blockchains either stay siloed or depend on centralized oracles to pull in outside data. Flare is trying to fix that by making data interoperability native to the blockchain itself.
That means developers can build apps that:
Use data from multiple blockchains.
Rely on real-world information (like asset prices) without trusting one central source.
Let everyday users earn rewards just by delegating their tokens.
In other words, Flare opens the door for a new generation of decentralized apps that are smarter, safer, and more connected.
The Bottom Line
Flare isn’t just “another blockchain.” It’s a platform designed to connect blockchains to each other and to the outside world. Its FLR token powers everything — from fees to governance to rewards — and its two big tools, the State Connector and FTSO, give developers the data they need to build powerful apps.
If you’re new to crypto, just remember this: Flare is about making blockchains talk to each other and the real world. And that’s a big deal for the future of decentralized technology.