Tezos (XTZ) is a self-amending blockchain platform launched in 2017 to address governance challenges and protocol upgrades without hard forks. This comprehensive guide explores Tezos' innovative architecture powered by Liquid Proof-of-Stake consensus, on-chain governance mechanisms, and formal verification for smart contract security. The article examines XTZ's market performance, current valuation at $0.5844 as of January 2026, and ecosystem applications spanning DeFi, NFTs, and smart contract development. It covers strategic partnerships, active community engagement with over 20,481 token holders, and real-world use cases through platforms like Plenty DeFi and objkt.com. Readers will learn how to purchase XTZ on Gate, participate in governance voting, secure tokens in compatible wallets, and contribute to ecosystem development. Despite facing regulatory risks and competitive pressure, Tezos' unique self-amendment capability and transparent governance model position it as a significant Layer 1 blockchain for