COTI, short for Currency Of The Internet, is a crypto payment infrastructure built to offer fast, low-cost, and privacy-centric transactions. It is designed to support both merchants and consumers by allowing digital payments in fiat or crypto, with integrated payment rails, merchant tools, and loyalty programs.
Under the hood, COTI originally operated using a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) architecture with its proprietary consensus called Trustchain / Proof of Trust (PoT), which links each new transaction to prior ones and factors in historical “trust scores” to validate and accelerate confirmations. In more recent upgrades (COTI V2), the network has evolved toward a
Layer-2 design with garbled circuits cryptography, enabling private computation (i.e. validating transactions without revealing sensitive data) off-chain, while relying on
Ethereum for security.
The COTI token (COTI) plays a central role in the ecosystem. It is used to pay transaction fees, secure the network (via staking or Treasury participation), and enable governance decisions (through gCOTI, the governance token). Transaction fees collected flow into a community-governed Treasury, and holders may receive yield or accelerated rewards depending on stake, lockups, and governance actions.
What Is COTI's DJED Stablecoin and How Does It Work?
DJED is COTI’s overcollateralized
stablecoin built on the
Cardano ecosystem: users deposit
ADA as collateral to mint DJED, and the protocol maintains a buffer of 400–800% over-collateralization to help preserve its $1 peg. It also uses a reserve coin called SHEN, which absorbs volatility and secures the system: when reserve ratios fall, SHEN is used to stabilize the peg, and SHEN holders receive a share of minting/burning fees and delegation rewards.
When Did COTI Launch?
COTI was founded by Shahaf Bar-Geffen in 2017, aiming to build a next-generation payments infrastructure that combines blockchain, DAG protocols, and cryptography. The project’s Trustchain protocol was introduced in October 2018, and COTI’s mainnet went live in June 2019. Over time, the network evolved, for example in 2020 it introduced MultiDAG (enabling issuance of multiple tokens / parallel DAGs), and it is now transitioning toward a more privacy-centered, Ethereum-settled L2 layer.
COTI Roadmap
- Launch of COTI’s Trustchain protocol (October 2018)
- Mainnet activation (June 2019)
- Introduction of MultiDAG (2020)
- Treasury launch (Feb 2022)
- Deployment of COTI V2 / privacy / garbled circuits roadmap (2024 onward)
- Mainnet / “Evolution” upgrade (Q1 2025) with node ecosystem, token bridge, wallet integration
What Is the COTI Token Utility?
The COTI token acts as the native utility token in its network. It is used to pay for confidential smart-contract execution on COTI’s V2 (via garbled circuits) and to fuel transaction computation fees. Token holders can also deposit COTI into the Treasury to earn rewards (
staking) and, over time, participate in governance decisions over protocol upgrades, parameter tuning, and ecosystem grants.
On BingX, once your account is funded, e.g. via depositing USDT or another supported cryptocurrency, you can go to the
Spot trading section, search for the
COTI/USDT trading pair, and place a
market or limit order to buy or sell COTI.
What Is COTI Tokenomics?
Originally, COTI’s V1 token model assumed a fixed supply of ~2,000,000,000 COTI, all minted at genesis, with no further tokens to be created. However, under COTI V2, the tokenomics have become somewhat more dynamic: there is a planned inflationary / deflationary element built in, allowing token creation over time (within defined parameters) and optional burning (deflation) depending on ecosystem governance decisions.
As of latest public data, the circulating supply is in the range of ~2.2–2.4 billion COTI (depending on source), and different platforms list different “max supply” numbers (including up to ~4.91 billion), though community debate exists about how to interpret that in light of the new V2 dynamics.
COTI Token Allocation
Under the V2 model, token allocation is designed to balance incentives for existing holders, growth of the ecosystem, and funding of development. For example:
• ~58 % of the new token emissions are allocated to rewards, incentives, and airdrops (to holders, stakers, validators, etc.).
• ~18 % is allocated for development (engineering, core upgrades)
• ~24 % is designated for the ecosystem / foundation (grants, liquidity support, strategic investments)
Importantly, there is a “dilution protection” built in: even as new tokens are emitted over time, early holders are meant to preserve significant share (e.g. the design is such that after 10 years, original holders still retain ~85 % of the total supply).
What Blockchain Network Does COTI Operate on?
COTI operates on its own Layer-1 infrastructure, initially powered by a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)-based protocol called Trustchain, which enables fast, low-fee, and scalable transactions without traditional blocks. In its latest evolution, COTI V2 transitions toward a privacy-focused Layer-2 network built on Ethereum, using garbled circuits cryptography to enable confidential smart contracts and private payments while leveraging Ethereum’s security and liquidity. This hybrid model allows COTI to maintain high throughput and privacy, while ensuring interoperability with the broader DeFi ecosystem.
How to Store COTI Tokens Securely
The safest and most convenient way to store your COTI tokens is directly on BingX, where they remain protected under industry-grade security infrastructure and insurance safeguards. By keeping your tokens on BingX, you can easily monitor live market prices, execute trades instantly, and participate in spot or futures markets without needing external transfers. BingX also provides advanced authentication tools and cold storage mechanisms to reduce the risk of unauthorized access or loss.
Alternatively, you can store COTI in self-custodial wallets that support ERC-20 tokens, such as
MetaMask,
Trust Wallet, or
hardware wallets like
Ledger and
Trezor for long-term holding. If you interact with the COTI Treasury or COTI V2 network, ensure your wallet is correctly connected to the supported blockchain (Ethereum or Cardano, depending on the version). Always verify contract addresses from official sources and avoid connecting your wallet to unknown dApps or links to maintain full control and security of your assets.
Is COTI (COTI) a Good Investment?
COTI stands out as a promising investment because it bridges scalability, privacy, and real-world utility in the digital payments sector. Its shift from a DAG-based Layer-1 to a privacy-focused Layer-2 on Ethereum positions it at the forefront of next-generation blockchain infrastructure.
With strong fundamentals, such as the COTI Treasury for staking rewards, the DJED stablecoin partnership within the Cardano ecosystem, and continuous technological upgrades, COTI appeals to investors seeking long-term growth in blockchain-based payment systems. However, like all crypto assets, its value remains subject to market volatility and evolving adoption trends.