Plian, previously known as PCHAIN, is a multichain smart contract platform that strives to cater to both public and enterprise decentralized finance (DeFi) needs. It is a proof-of-stake native multichain network that supports the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Plian's unique PDBFT consensus mechanism allows any decentralized application running on its platform to maintain high-speed consensus across multiple chains and dynamic shards. This lays a foundation for programmable finance that is both instant and scalable. Plian's technology aims to provide trust and scalability to the DeFi economy and its decentralized applications, systems, and communities.

Plian operates through a unique PDBFT consensus mechanism, which enables high-speed consensus across multiple chains and dynamic shards. This mechanism allows for the dynamic entry and exit of potentially thousands of nodes without impacting the speed or throughput of the network. Plian's architecture includes a parallel chain framework that anchors each child chain to the main chain, requiring attackers to attack all chains simultaneously to be successful. Plian also features smart contracts based on Smart Data enabled by cross-chain transactions, expanding the applicability of smart contracts beyond just programmable data.

Plian aims to simplify the deployment of DeFi solutions on its blockchain with well-known tools and improve cross-chain compatibilities. It also intends to develop a Plian-specific scan, which supports browsing assets, transactions, and mainnet information on Plian, as well as displaying statistical on-chain data to community members. Another potential use case for Plian is the creation of an NFT platform that supports trading and contains useful information. Plian also seeks to foster decentralized governance through the selection of members for the first committee of PlianDAO.

Plian was founded by some of China's foremost pioneers in the blockchain industry. The project was initially known as PCHAIN before it was rebranded to Plian. The rebranding transformed Plian into a scalable, interoperable, Solidity programmable blockchain for public and enterprise DeFi needs. Over the years, Plian has developed technologies that aim to provide trust and scalability to the DeFi economy and its decentralized applications, systems, and communities.