What is iExec RLC (RLC)?

By CMC AI
01 November 2026 11:33AM (UTC+0)
TLDR

iExec RLC (RLC) is the native cryptocurrency of the iExec network, a decentralized computing platform that enables developers to build privacy-first applications with confidential data processing.

  1. Privacy-First Decentralized Computing – It provides tools for developers to integrate confidential computing, data protection, and private messaging into applications, giving users control over their data.

  2. Powered by Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) – The network uses hardware-based secure enclaves (like Intel TDX) to ensure code and data remain private and verifiable during processing.

  3. ERC-20 Utility Token on Ethereum & Arbitrum – RLC is used to pay for computing resources, access protected datasets, and participate in network staking and governance, with a fixed supply.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

iExec tackles the challenge of privacy in decentralized applications (dApps). Its core value is enabling confidential computing, where sensitive data and code can be processed without being exposed to the network or the provider. This allows builders to create applications where user data ownership and privacy are default features, opening new models for secure data monetization and sharing in sectors like DeFi, AI, and real-world assets (CoinMarketCap).

2. Technology & Architecture

The platform's privacy is powered by Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), which are secure, isolated areas within a processor (using technology like Intel TDX). Developers can use iExec's ready-made tools—such as DataProtector for encrypted data and Web3Messaging for private communication—without managing the underlying infrastructure. The network originally operated on its own sidechain but has migrated to be multi-chain, now live on Ethereum and Arbitrum to improve scalability and accessibility.

3. Tokenomics & Utility

RLC is a standard ERC-20 token with a fixed maximum supply of approximately 86.99 million coins, all in circulation. Its primary utility is as the network's currency: it is used to pay for app execution, access confidential datasets, and reward resource providers. The token is also integral to the ecosystem's security and governance, as it can be staked by participants to earn rewards and influence decisions.

Conclusion

iExec RLC is fundamentally the fuel and governance token for a decentralized network that simplifies hardware-grade privacy for developers, enabling a new wave of confidential applications. How will its tooling evolve to meet the growing demand for privacy in on-chain finance and AI?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.