What is OKB (OKB)?

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

OKB serves as the access key to OKX’s ecosystem, offering holders:
- Up to 40% trading fee discounts on the exchange (OKX)
- Participation in governance votes and exclusive token sales
- Integration with 50+ third-party platforms for payments, lending, and wallet services

Its value stems from aligning incentives between the exchange and its users, similar to BNB’s role for Binance but with a stronger focus on interoperability.

2. Tokenomics & Scarcity

A pivotal August 2025 upgrade (CoinMarketCap):
- 65M OKB burned (≈$7.6B at the time), fixing total supply at 21M – mirroring Bitcoin’s scarcity model
- Smart contract update to disable future minting/burning
- Replaced OKTChain tokens with OKB via 1:1 conversion, consolidating utility

This deflationary shift transformed OKB from an inflationary exchange token into a capped asset, driving a 170% price surge post-announcement.

3. Technical Integration

OKB powers X Layer – OKX’s Ethereum-compatible zkEVM chain built with Polygon’s CDK:
- Processes 5,000 TPS with near-zero gas fees
- Default network for OKX Pay and cross-border settlements
- Supports DeFi protocols and real-world asset tokenization

The upgrade positions OKB as both a transactional asset and infrastructure token, unlike competitors focused solely on exchange benefits.

Conclusion

OKB has evolved from a basic utility token to a multi-chain asset with Bitcoin-like scarcity and Ethereum-level programmability. While its exchange roots provide stability, the X Layer integration and aggressive supply reduction create unique value in payments and DeFi.

Can OKB maintain its dual identity as both a deflationary store of value and a high-utility gas token as competition intensifies?