What Is GateToken (GT)?

GateToken (GT) is the native utility token of Gate and its GateChain blockchain. Launched in 2019, GT functions as the platform currency: it pays for trading fees and blockchain gas, is used in staking, and unlocks special perks on Gate’s ecosystem. For example, GT grants holders up to 50% discounts on exchange trading fees when fees are paid with GT. It also serves on GateChain (an EVM-compatible Layer-1) where GT is used for gas and can be staked to secure the network. In short, GT is at the core of Gate’s exchange and blockchain operations.

GateToken was launched without an ICO or private sale, emphasizing a fair launch to the community. Gate has since continued to develop GT’s role: it is the asset used for transaction fees on GateChain (supporting ~4-second blocks and very low fees) and for numerous platform features. In summary, GT is an exchange token and blockchain gas coin wrapped into one, with uses ranging from fee payment to voting rights and participation in token launches.

GT Tokenomics: Supply & Deflation

GT’s total supply is fixed at 300 million tokens. (Originally Gate minted 1,000 million GT in 2019, but promptly burned the excess down to 300M). Crucially, GT’s design is deflationary: a large portion of its supply is regularly destroyed to create scarcity. As detailed by Gate, over 58% of GT’s 300M cap has already been burned. About 10% of the supply (30M GT) is frozen in an insurance fund and can only be used for future burns. This leaves roughly 32% (≈96M GT) in active circulation today.

• Max supply: 300,000,000 GT (after initial burns).
• Burned so far: ≈58% of the 300M (over 176M GT).
• Frozen reserve: 30,000,000 GT (10% of supply, insurance fund).
• Circulating: ~32% of supply (~96M GT).

Gate actively reduces GT supply through multiple channels. The exchange dedicates a portion of its profits to buy and burn GT: about 15% of trading profits are used to repurchase GT and burn it, plus another 5% for GT R&D (so roughly 20% of profits support GT burn). In August 2024, GateChain implemented an EIP-1559–style fee burn: a large share of GT used as on-chain gas fees is automatically burned. Taken together, these mechanisms steadily shrink the supply, reinforcing GT’s scarcity-driven tokenomics.

How On-Chain Burns Strengthen GT

Gate’s July 2025 announcement highlights a new “on-chain” burn process for GT, meaning token destruction is recorded transparently on the blockchain. In the second quarter of 2025, 1,922,789.196841 GT (about $39.01 million) was transferred to a burn address and permanently removed from circulation. This brings Gate’s cumulative GT burn to over 180.55 million tokens (worth roughly $2.748 billion) out of the original 300M supply. In other words, about 60.18% of all GT has now been destroyed through Gate’s burn programs.

Embedding the burn on-chain increases transparency and trust. Gate provides public links to the burn transactions (for example, an Etherscan link for the Q2 burn was included in the announcement) so anyone can verify the destruction. As Gate’s documentation notes, “all burn records for GT are publicly available and verifiable on-chain”. By moving burns onto the blockchain, Gate assures users that tokens are truly removed – not just hidden in a private wallet. This open audit trail strengthens confidence in the deflationary process.

Steady on-chain burns also support GT’s long-term value. By systematically shrinking supply, each burn creates incremental scarcity. Gate itself emphasizes that its deflation strategy “provides strong support for the long-term value of GT”. Cryptoeconomically, this mirrors the model of other exchange tokens (like BNB) where periodic burns underpin value growth. While we avoid price forecasts, it is clear that transparent, regular burns give holders assurance that GT will become scarcer over time. In combination with growing utility (see below), this mechanism can help sustain GT’s role in Gate’s ecosystem.

Why GT Matters in the Gate Ecosystem

GT’s value to Gate users comes from its broad utility. Holding GT unlocks multiple benefits across the platform. Key uses of GT include:

• Trading Fee Discounts: GT holders pay reduced fees on Gate. For example, paying fees with GT can cut spot and futures fees by up to 50% for higher-tier users. Even modest balances yield noticeable savings, making GT valuable for active traders.
• Staking and Security: As the native coin of GateChain, GT can be staked. Validators and delegators earn staking rewards (Gate offers yields up to ~10%) by locking GT on GateChain. Staking both secures the network and gives holders passive income, encouraging long-term commitment.
• Governance: GT holders can participate in governance votes on the GateChain network, influencing protocol parameters and upgrades. In other words, holders have a voice in the blockchain’s future development. This aligns incentives between the community and platform.
• Token Sales and Airdrops: Owning GT grants priority access to Gate’s Launchpad/Startup token sales and exclusive airdrops. For instance, GT holders can subscribe to new project launches on Gate’s platform and enjoy dedicated token rewards. This early-access feature is a strong draw for investors seeking new crypto projects.

In short, GT ties Gate’s offerings together. It reduces trading costs, earns rewards, and unlocks new opportunities. Gate has built multiple VIP and startup programs around GT (e.g. special price tiers, dedicated customer service, and token launch privileges). For users of Gate.io and GateChain, GT is much more than a speculative asset—it is a working token that powers many platform functions. As the ecosystem grows (new wallets, dApps, NFTs, Meme projects, etc.), Gate plans to expand GT’s role even further.

By combining these utilities with a transparent deflation policy, Gate positions GT as a cornerstone of its platform economics. The July 2025 on-chain burn highlights Gate’s commitment to GT’s scarcity model, and the token’s multiple use cases ensure it remains integral to the Gate community.