Exploring Sui: How It’s Different from EVM-Based Blockchains
You’re probably familiar with Ethereum or other networks that work in a similar way — like BNB Chain or Polygon. These EVM-based blockchains share a common structure, so tools, apps, and user experiences often feel the same across them.
But not all blockchains follow this model. Some are built differently from the ground up. While some of these networks may add features to make things feel more familiar to EVM users, the core technology often works in its own unique way. And for users bridging assets or interacting across chains, those differences can matter.
This article is part of a series focusing on non-EVM blockchains supported by Allbridge Core — specifically Solana, Tron, Stellar, and Sui. Each one has its own architecture and approach, and in this piece, we’ll take a closer look at Sui and how it’s different from the EVM chains you might be used to.
Under the Hood: What Makes Sui Different
Sui is built on very different foundations than EVM-based chains. While you don’t need to understand every technical detail to bridge stablecoins, it helps to know why the network feels faster and a bit different when you use it.
At the core is the Move programming language, originally developed for the Diem project and adapted for Sui. Move was designed with strong ownership rules that make it harder for developers to write insecure code. For users, this means many common smart contract risks — like reentrancy attacks or double-spending bugs — are much less likely to occur.
Another big difference is that Sui doesn’t just track token balances inside a single contract the way Ethereum does. Instead, everything — including USDC — is represented as an object with its own ownership and rules. Wallets handle this complexity for you, so you’ll still see a familiar running balance, but the system behind it works in a very different way.
This design also enables Sui to process many transactions in parallel. Similar to how Solana uses its account model to unlock throughput (see our Solana article for more details), Sui’s object model allows transfers to confirm very quickly, while still handling more complex interactions efficiently.
In short: Sui’s architecture may look nothing like Ethereum, but the practical outcome is that transactions confirm quickly and the network scales efficiently — all while reducing certain security risks that have affected other blockchains.
Sui’s Wallet Ecosystem: Getting Started
Because Sui is different (as discussed already), its wallets are different too — you’ll need a wallet that works with Sui’s architecture in order to send USDC, pay gas, and use dApps.
Here are some of the most popular wallets in the Sui space (non-custodial options) right now: Slush (official), Suiet, Martian, Nightly, Surf. 
A few things to know when setting one up:
- You’ll likely use a mobile app or browser extension depending on which wallet you choose. Some wallets support both, others are extension-only. 
- As with any other non-custodial wallet: back up your seed phrase / recovery phrase somewhere safe; you control the keys.
- You’ll need a bit of SUI in the wallet for transaction fees (“gas”). But good news: with Allbridge Core, you can send gas along with your USDC transfer to help fund a new wallet.
Using the wallet feels mostly as you’d expect: sending USDC, approving transfers, connecting to Allbridge Core or other dApps is similar to other chains. The difference is just that this wallet is built specifically for Sui, so it knows how to talk to its network.
Addresses, Names, and Transaction IDs on Sui
Sui addresses use the same hexadecimal format as EVM networks, but they’re noticeably longer. Instead of the 42-character addresses you’re used to, Sui addresses can be much larger, which makes them a bit less convenient to copy and share directly.
To make addressing easier, Sui has its own name service. At first, names were registered with a .sui suffix (for example, alice.sui). The newer standard uses a @ prefix instead (for example, @alice). Both formats are supported, but the @ style is now the preferred option since it feels more like familiar usernames.
Another small difference is in how transaction IDs are displayed. While addresses are hex, transaction hashes are typically shown in Base58 encoding. They look different from the hex hashes common on EVM explorers, but they serve the same purpose — a unique reference you can use to track and verify transactions.
Final Thoughts on Sui and Allbridge Core
Sui brings its own set of differences compared to EVM networks — from its Move-based architecture to its dedicated wallet ecosystem, longer addresses, and a new style of human-readable names. While these details set it apart, most of the complexity is handled automatically by wallets and dApps.
With Allbridge Core, bridging USDC to and from Sui is designed to feel as seamless as possible. Even if it’s your first time on the network, the relayer can fund your wallet with gas, and the interface guides you through every step. Once set up, you can enjoy fast confirmations, low fees, and the expanding possibilities of the Sui ecosystem.
