What is OKB?

BeginnerJun 08, 2023
Explore the world of OKB, the native cryptocurrency of the OKX exchange, in our comprehensive guide. Uncover its history, use cases, and features while evaluating its investment potential. Stay ahead in the crypto game by understanding OKB's future prospects and the latest news. Dive in now!
What is OKB?

What is OKB?

OKB is the utility token associated with the OKX exchange, designed to facilitate transactions and provide access to platform-specific features. Initially developed as an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, OKB has since migrated to OKExChain, which supports greater flexibility and functionality. OKExChain enables developers to create decentralized applications (DApps) that facilitate on-chain trading of assets across various networks.

By integrating with the OKX exchange, OKB offers users access to certain features and services, such as earning passive income through staking, obtaining discounted trading fees, and participating in decision-making processes within the OKX ecosystem. Holding OKB allows users to leverage the OKX platform more effectively, enabling them to take advantage of trading and investment opportunities. The transition to OKExChain also expands possibilities for developers and users, fostering a more versatile trading environment.

History of OKB

The history of OKB dates back to its launch on March 22, 2018, by OKEx, a digital asset exchange. Over the years, OKEx has continually worked on various initiatives related to the OKB token to enhance its utility and value within the platform’s ecosystem.

Initially, the OKB token was introduced as an ERC-20-compliant token on the Ethereum network. However, in June 2019, OKEx’s management announced the integration of OKB onto their in-house developed blockchain network, OKChain. The development of OKChain aimed to provide a more robust and scalable infrastructure for the OKB token and the OKEx ecosystem.

The head of operations at OKEx, commented on the significance of the OKB token’s first anniversary, expressing gratitude to the one million OKB holders who contributed to the $15.6 billion in OKB trading volume during the token’s first year. The team at OKEx was inspired by the positive results and felt more confident in driving the advancement of the blockchain and digital asset industries. To further expand its range of products and services, OKEx announced the launch of a decentralized exchange (DEX) on the OKChain platform, which would utilize the OKB token for facilitating token pre-sales. This move demonstrated the exchange’s commitment to building a robust blockchain ecosystem in collaboration with its users.

The OKB token issuance process involved releasing 300 million tokens out of a maximum supply of 1 billion. The remaining 700 million OKB tokens were locked up, with 300 million being gradually distributed to OKEx users through the company’s loyalty program, while the other 400 million were reserved for the OK Blockchain Foundation and the firm’s operations team members.

Similar to Gate Startup, OKEx adopted the initial exchange offering (IEO) model to help blockchain startups launch new tokens into the digital asset market. OKEx’s version of the IEO model, “OKEx Jumpstart,” further showcased the exchange’s commitment to driving innovation and growth in the blockchain space.

How does OKB Work?

OKB has gained recognition for offering platform users various advantages and opportunities within the OKX ecosystem. Some of the notable aspects of OKB include:

  • Discounted Trading Fees: Depending on their OKB holdings and trading volume, users can receive up to a 40% discount on transactions. OKX categorizes users into Regular and VIP groups, with each group being assigned a level based on their OKB stock or trading volume. Commissions are updated daily, and discounts are determined by the user’s respective level. \

  • Passive Income: OKB holders can generate passive income through the OKX Earn program. By participating in this program, users can earn rewards based on their OKB holdings. \

  • Governance and Voting Rights: OKB provides its holders with voting rights and the ability to participate in the platform’s governance. \

  • OKX Jumpstart Platform: OKB plays a crucial role in the allocation of funds on the OKX Jumpstart platform. This platform allows users to invest in early-stage crypto projects, with participation being exclusive to registered OKX users who hold OKB tokens. \

  • Facilitating Various Trading Types: OKB is used on the OKX exchange to enable spot trading, derivatives trading, and the development of multiple scalable applications. This versatility makes OKB an integral part of the trading experience on OKX. \

  • Enhanced Scalability and Security: OKB’s layered architecture on the OKExChain contributes to reduced consensus times, improved scalability, and increased security for users on the platform.

These features have made OKB stand out as a widely recognized and valuable utility token, offering users a range of benefits and opportunities to optimize their trading and investment experiences.

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OKB’s Main Features: Utility in the OKEx Ecosystem, Benefits for Token Holders and Integrations \

To fully comprehend the OKB token, we must analyze various aspects, including its utility, role within the OKEx ecosystem, and potential benefits for token holders.

Utility and Role in the OKEx Ecosystem:

As the native utility token of the OKEx platform, OKB serves multiple purposes. It is primarily used for discounted trading fees, allowing users to benefit from reduced transaction costs. Furthermore, OKB plays a significant role in voting and governance on the platform, empowering the community to participate in decision-making processes.

Another critical aspect of OKB’s utility is its use in the OKEx Jumpstart program, which facilitates funding allocation for new blockchain projects. By incorporating the OKB token into this process, OKEx ensures that token holders have exclusive access to these opportunities.

Benefits for Token Holders

Holding OKB tokens offers several advantages for users on the OKEx platform. These include:

  • Discounted Trading Fees: Users holding OKB can receive up to a 40% discount on trading fees, depending on their respective user level. This incentive encourages more users to hold and utilize the token on the platform.
  • Passive Income: By holding OKB tokens and participating in OKEx Earn, platform members have the opportunity to receive passive income, further incentivizing long-term investment in the token.
  • Access to Exclusive Features: OKB holders gain access to the platform’s special features, including voting rights and governance, which allows them to have a say in the platform’s future direction.
  • Participation in Token Pre-sales: Holding OKB tokens grants users the ability to participate in token pre-sales on the OKEx Jumpstart platform, offering them a chance to invest in promising new projects.

Integration with OKChain and the Decentralized Exchange (DEX)

OKB’s integration with OKChain, the blockchain platform developed by OKEx’s in-house team, has allowed it to facilitate spot trading, derivatives trading, and the simultaneous development of scalable applications. The layered architecture of OKChain enhances the token’s utility by reducing consensus times, improving scalability, and boosting security.

In addition to these features, OKB’s integration with OKChain enabled the launch of a decentralized exchange (DEX) on the platform, further expanding the token’s utility and value within the OKEx ecosystem.

Use Cases and Additional Features

The OKB token offers a range of use cases and features that benefit its holders both within the OKEx ecosystem and beyond. This versatility makes it a valuable asset for users who want to make the most of their cryptocurrency investments.

Use Cases

  • Exclusive Token Listings: OKB holders gain exclusive access to new token offerings on the OKEx exchange, allowing them to invest in emerging cryptocurrencies.
  • Token Conversion: Small, leftover balances of tokens on the OKEx exchange can be converted into OKB tokens, streamlining users’ portfolios and encouraging the use of OKB.
  • Purchasing NFTs: OKB tokens can be used to buy non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the OKEx platform, enabling users to participate in the growing NFT market.
  • Real-World Payments: Through partnerships with Alchemy Pay and Now Payments, OKB tokens can be used for payments at various locations worldwide, providing additional utility for their tokens.
  • Online Services: OKB tokens can also be used to pay for online services such as BitTorrent subscriptions, further expanding their real-life applications.
  • Wallet Features: With a wallet like ZenGo, users can easily manage their OKB tokens, including viewing their portfolio, sending and receiving OKB, buying OKB with fiat currency, and securely storing their tokens.

Additional Features

  • Discounted Trading Fees: OKB offers discounted trading fees on the OKEx exchange, with discounts of up to 40% depending on the number of tokens held and the user’s trading volume.
  • Deflationary Design: OKB is designed to be deflationary, with large amounts of tokens burned every quarter through the Buy-Back & Burn program, potentially increasing their value over time.
  • Community Incentives: OKEx uses a portion of its OKB tokens to incentivize and reward community members who contribute to the platform’s ecosystem, fostering a thriving user base.
  • VIP Services and Governance: OKB is used as a medium for accessing VIP services and participating in token sales on the OKEx platform. OKB token holders also have the opportunity to vote in governance decisions that could impact the exchange.
  • Earning Opportunities: OKB token holders can earn interest on their OKB holdings through staking, lending, and other investment options offered by the platform.
  • Cross-Platform Utility: OKB can be traded on other cryptocurrency exchanges, increasing its utility beyond the OKEx platform.

Is OKB a Good Investment?

Determining whether OKB is a good investment depends on individual investors’ risk tolerance, investment objectives, and understanding of the token’s unique features and potential risks. It is important to consider both the advantages and potential drawbacks of investing in OKB before making a decision.

Advantages

  • Utility for OKX users: OKB is particularly beneficial for users of the OKX exchange, as it enables access to exclusive functions and can provide money-saving benefits over time.
  • Established token: OKB has been around for a while, making a rug pull unlikely given the asset’s age and the reputation of the OKX platform.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Lack of white paper: Investors should remain cautious about the absence of a white paper, which means that OKB’s creators may change the token’s direction with little-to-no warning.
  • Impact of market downturn: Like all other cryptocurrencies, OKB has struggled in the wake of the crypto market downturn in 2022, with its value falling more than 50% from its 2021 highs in recent months.
  • Limited appeal for non-OKX users: The token’s benefits and utility may be limited for those who are not active users of the OKX exchange.

Whether OKB is a good investment depends on an individual’s investment strategy, risk tolerance, and understanding of the token’s unique features and potential risks. OKB may be a worthy investment for active OKX users who wish to take full advantage of the exchange’s suite of intuitive features.

However, for non-OKX users or those seeking more stability and less reliance on a specific platform, other investment options may be more suitable. It is crucial for potential investors to conduct thorough research and consider both the advantages and potential drawbacks of investing in OKB before making a decision.

News on OKB

  • Unprecedented token burn: Initially, OKB planned to have a total supply of 1 billion tokens. However, in a surprising move, 700 million unreleased tokens were burned, reducing the total supply to 300 million.
  • OKX’s rapid growth: Founded in 2017, OKX has quickly become one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges in the market, demonstrating its adaptability and the potential for future growth.
  • CEO’s inspiration: OKX CEO was inspired to work in finance after witnessing his immigrant father’s struggles in America. This personal connection likely contributes to the company’s drive for success and growth.
  • Cold storage security measures: To ensure the safety of its users’ funds, OKX holds the vast majority of its assets in offline cold storage. Access to these funds requires multiple keyholders, providing an additional layer of security.
  • Temporary withdrawal halt in 2020: In a notable event, OKX temporarily halted withdrawals in 2020 after the arrest of Mingxing Xu, one of the keyholders of the offline storage. This incident highlights the importance of robust security measures and business continuity plans within the cryptocurrency industry.

These events and developments showcase the dynamic nature of OKB, as well as the importance of staying informed about news and updates in the cryptocurrency space. Investors should keep an eye on such news to make informed decisions and monitor the growth and progress of their investments.

How can you own OKB?

Going through a centralized cryptocurrency exchange is one approach to acquiring OKB. The first step is to create a Gate.io account and complete the KYC process. Once you have deposited money into your account, follow the instructions to purchase OKB on the spot or futures market.

Take action on OKB

Author: Piero
Translator: cedar
Reviewer(s): Matheus、Edward
* The information is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by Gate.io.
* This article may not be reproduced, transmitted or copied without referencing Gate.io. Contravention is an infringement of Copyright Act and may be subject to legal action.
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