Publication date: Sept. 19, 2024

What is OKB?

OKB is the native utility token of the OKX ecosystem, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. The OKX platform, founded in 2017, introduced OKB in March 2018 as an essential part of its ecosystem. OKB allows users to take advantage of various benefits within the platform, such as trading discounts and exclusive access to new crypto projects through the Jumpstart launches.

The token plays a crucial role within OKX, as it serves as a reward for users who actively participate in the platform, as well as a means to reduce the cost of transactions. The maximum supply of OKB has been set at 300 million tokens, much of which is burned regularly to increase scarcity to support value.

How does OKB work?

OKB is used for multiple applications within the OKX platform. Users can receive up to a 40% discount on trading fees when they own OKB. This makes the token attractive to active traders who frequently use the OKX platform. In addition, users can deploy OKB through the OKX Earn program, which allows them to earn up to 5% interest on their OKB holdings.

Another important feature of OKB is participation in Jumpstart projects. Jumpstart allows users to gain access to new cryptocurrency projects launched through OKX, which gives OKB holders an exclusive advantage over non-holders. In addition to these uses, OKB is also used for payments, staking and even gaining access to new services that are constantly being added to the ecosystem.

History of OKB

OKB was launched in 2018, just a year after OKX itself was founded. Since then, the token has experienced significant growth, thanks in part to the rapidly expanding OKX ecosystem. OKB's success is closely tied to OKX's expansion as a crypto exchange. OKX has formed strategic partnerships with several big names such as McLaren F1, Manchester City, and the Tribeca Film Festival, which has contributed to the visibility and adoption of OKB.

In addition to partnerships, OKX has implemented an extensive "burn" program to reduce the circulating amount of OKB. Every few months, large amounts of OKB are permanently destroyed, making the remaining tokens scarcer and more valuable. To date, more than 64 million OKB tokens have been burned.

Over the years, OKX has continued to expand its services, including the introduction of advanced trading options, an NFT marketplace, and even a Web3 wallet. As a result, OKB has evolved from a simple utility token to an important element within a multi-faceted ecosystem.

What's going on at OKB?

Lately, there have been significant updates and developments within the OKX ecosystem, affecting OKB. In 2023, OKX announced the launch of their own Layer 1 blockchain, known as OKX Chain (OKC), which provides support for DeFi applications and decentralized apps (dApps). This has strengthened OKB's role within the ecosystem, as the token is now also used for transactions on OKC.

In addition, OKX has expanded its collaborations, including with sports teams such as Manchester City and McLaren's Formula One team. These partnerships have not only increased OKX's visibility but also contributed to the wider acceptance of OKB. OKX has stated that these collaborations are intended to present the benefits of crypto technology to a wider audience.

In addition, OKB's burn program remains an important factor in the token's value. With regular burns, the circulating volume continues to decline, which increases scarcity and thus has potential value-added effects.

Pricing of OKB

OKB, the native token of the OKX exchange, was introduced in 2017 and has since experienced impressive growth. Originally designed to offer traders on OKX discounts on trading fees, OKB's role has grown to become an essential part of the OKX ecosystem. After a relatively stable start, OKB's value rose sharply during the 2021 crypto market surge, with the price peaking around $44, driven by the platform's increasing popularity and growing demand for exchange tokens.

Important developments that have contributed to OKB's share price rise include strategic collaborations with companies such as Google Cloud and various blockchain innovations that have enhanced the platform's functionality. OKX's expansion into DeFi solutions and offering more use cases for OKB further boosted demand. On the other hand, concerns about tighter regulations in several markets caused some pressure on the price, especially in 2022, when the broader crypto market was on a downward trend.

In the past 12 months, OKB showed strong volatility. In early 2023, the token was trading around $30-$35, but this value rose significantly to $55 in the second half of the year, thanks to the introduction of new platform features and improved strike capabilities. Still, the price remained sensitive to broader market movements and regulatory pressures.

Compared to Bitcoin, OKB has generally shown sharper fluctuations, mainly because it is more dependent on the performance of OKX itself and developments in the DeFi space. What is unique about OKB is its close linkage to the success of the OKX exchange, which means its value often responds to internal innovations and changes within the platform.