Celestia has long been at the forefront of a design shift that promises to solve crypto’s long-standing problem of scalability. Notwithstanding the tepid performance of its native token, TIA, it continues to be seen as a strategic play on the future of blockchain infrastructure.
In this guide, we take a look at Celestia’s value and role in the crypto ecosystem and why it is seeing growing developer adoption and backing through major partnerships.
What Is Celestia?
Celestia is a Layer 1 blockchain that can be used as a platform to build other applications and services. Unlike most peers, though, the Celestia network focuses on just two jobs: ordering transactions and making data available. That allows other developers to create their own chains, called rollups, and rely on Celestia for security and data storage.
Traditional blockchains such as bitcoin and Solana are monolithic, meaning they handle execution, consensus, and data all in one place. While this design works, it creates bottlenecks, and scalability has been one of the biggest challenges in crypto. As more people use blockchains, they slow down and become expensive.
Celestia solves this problem by being modular i.e. it separates the functions into specialist layers. This means faster transactions, lower costs, and more flexibility for developers to innovate without worrying about building everything themselves. By flipping the model, Celestia makes it easier and cheaper to launch new blockchains and lets them share the same secure base layer.
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The Celestia project began in 2019, when Mustafa Al-Bassam, then a PhD student at University College London, introduced the idea of splitting blockchain functions into separate layers, in a research paper called LazyLedger. The goal was simple but ambitious: make blockchains more scalable and easier to build. Al-Bassam then teamed up with Ismail Khoffi, an engineer from the Cosmos ecosystem and John Adler, a researcher, to set up the open-source Cosmos SDK framework, which gave Celestia its interoperability and Tendermint-based consensus. In 2021, the project officially rebranded from LazyLedger to Celestia. The project secured its first major round of financing in March 2021. It has since secured over $US200 million across 10 funding rounds and now counts Bain Capital Crypto, Coinbase Ventures, Syncracy, and Polychain among its key investors. Celestia announced the launch of its native token, TIA, in September 2023, After years of research and testnets, it launched the main network on October 31, 2023. TIA is the native token of the Celestia network, and it plays a central role in how the modular blockchain operates. The cryptocurrency can mainly be used for: Paying for Data Availability: Developers building rollups on Celestia pay fees in TIA to store transaction data on the network. New blockchains can also use TIA to pay for the cost of executing their transaction a.k.a. gas fee. Staking and Security: Celestia uses a proof-of-stake system, to verify and secure transactions across a decentralised network of computers. Holders can stake TIA to secure the network and earn rewards. Governance: Stakers also get voting rights on key network decisions, such as protocol upgrades and parameter changes. At its launch, Celestia created one billion TIA tokens, with 20% for public allocation. Its current circulating supply is about 793 million. TIA hit the market with a bang in late 2023, starting just above $US2 and soaring to an all-time high of nearly US$21 by February 2024, driven by hype around modular blockchains and strong venture capital backing. By mid-2025, however, TIA’s price had dropped more than 90% from its peak—hitting a low of $US1.32 in June 2025—as early investors took profits and token unlocks increased supply. As of 26 September 2025, it trades at $US1.39. That still gives it a market capitalisation of $US1.1 billion, placing it in the top 100 coins globally. Buying Celestia’s TIA token in Australia is straightforward, thanks to several exchanges that support AUD deposits: 1. Choose a Crypto Exchange The most common method of buying any cryptocurrency is through a centralised exchange. Popular options for Australians include CoinSpot, Coinbase, Cointree, and Kraken. These platforms are regulated and allow direct AUD deposits. 2. Create and Verify Your Account You will need to register with the chosen exchange and complete identity verification. That may require you to supply a valid photo ID and proof of address. 3. Deposit funds You can add funds to your account using bank transfer, PayID, or debit card. Most Australian exchanges support instant deposits via PayID or OSKO. 4. Place order Search for Celestia (TIA) on the platform, enter the amount you want to buy in AUD, and confirm the purchase. Many exchanges allow fractional purchases, so you can start with as little as $1. 5. Select a storage method You can keep your TIA tokens in the exchange’s integrated wallet for convenience or transfer it to an offline storage wallet for extra security if you plan to hold long-term. Related: Best (and safest) way to store crypto The TIA token has been on a wild ride since its debut in late 2023, rocketing to an all-time high of nearly $21 in February 2024, and then sliding over 90% to hit an all-time low of near $1.32 in June 2025. As of September, it continues to trade near its yearly lows. This extreme volatility can mainly be attributed to the cryptocurrency’s growing supply. There have been a number of unlocks of large allocations or exit of early investors and team members, which has increased supply in the market, creating consistent downward pressure. High interest rates have also contributed to hurting speculative assets such as cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, even as Celestia’s modular vision continues to be promising, real-world adoption of rollups and apps has been slower than expected. More TIA tokens are scheduled to vest through early 2027, which may keep pressure on the price. On the positive side, though, Celestia remains a pioneer in modular blockchain architecture, and partnerships with major projects keep it relevant. Analysts expect that if modular blockchains gain traction, TIA could benefit significantly. This article is not an endorsement of any particular cryptocurrency, broker or exchange nor does it constitute a recommendation of cryptocurrency or CFDs as an investment class. Cryptocurrency is unregulated in Australia and your capital is at risk. Trading in contracts for difference (CFDs) is riskier than conventional share trading, not suitable for the majority of investors, and includes the potential for partial or total loss of capital. You should always consider whether you can afford to lose your money before deciding to trade in CFDs or cryptocurrency, and seek advice from an authorised financial advisor.History of the Project
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