What Is Pocket Network (POKT) and How Does It Work?
Pocket Network (POKT) is a decentralized blockchain infrastructure protocol designed to provide open, permissionless access to blockchain data. Instead of relying on centralized RPC providers, Pocket Network allows Web3 applications to retrieve data through a distributed network of independent node operators. This approach improves censorship resistance, reduces single points of failure, and aligns with the core principles of decentralization.
Pocket Network works by connecting applications and blockchains through a relay-based system. Developers stake POKT tokens to access a predefined amount of network throughput (measured in relays), which are essentially data requests to supported blockchains. These relays are randomly routed to decentralized nodes, ensuring no single node controls data delivery while maintaining reliability and performance at scale.
Node operators secure the network by staking POKT and servicing relays from applications. In return, they earn POKT rewards for accurately delivering blockchain data. The protocol uses cryptographic verification and economic incentives to keep nodes honest, while governance mechanisms allow the community to propose upgrades and parameter changes. Together, this creates a self-sustaining, decentralized infrastructure layer for Web3 apps across dozens of blockchains.
When Did Pocket Network Launch?
Pocket Network (POKT) was founded in 2017 by a team including Michael O’Rourke, Valeria Benitez Florez, Pabel Nunez Landestoy, and Luis Correa de Leon, who identified a need for decentralized alternatives to centralized blockchain API services. After several years of development, the project’s mainnet officially went live in July 2020 with its original protocol called Morse, enabling decentralized RPC-style data relays for Web3 applications. Since then, Pocket Network has continuously evolved, achieving significant milestones such as the Shannon upgrade in June 2025, which rearchitected the system for full permissionless access and deflationary tokenomics.
Pocket Network Roadmap: Key Milestones
- July 2020 – Mainnet launch with Morse protocol, decentralizing blockchain data relays.
- 2023–2024 – Progressive upgrades expanding supported chains and network performance.
- June 3, 2025 – Completion of Shannon upgrade, enabling fully permissionless infrastructure and modular Cosmos SDK base.
- Jan 3, 2026 – DAO passes PIP-41 introducing deflationary tokenomics where a portion of minted POKT is permanently burned.
- Feb 10, 2026 – Phoenix v2 protocol upgrade aimed at enhanced node economics, throughput, and security.
Ongoing – Expansion into enterprise infrastructure, universal API tooling, cross-chain integrations, and broader ecosystem partnerships.
What Is the POKT Token Used for?
The POKT token is the core economic engine of Pocket Network. It is used for staking, network access, and incentives across the protocol. Node operators stake POKT to run infrastructure nodes and earn rewards for serving blockchain data relays, while developers stake POKT to pay for decentralized RPC access and application throughput. POKT also plays a role in protocol governance, allowing the community to vote on upgrades, economic parameters, and long-term network changes.
You can trade POKT tokens on the BingX spot market by
depositing USDT, searching for the
POKT/USDT trading pair, and placing a
market or limit order based on your strategy. BingX provides real-time price charts, deep liquidity, and intuitive trading tools, making it easy to buy or sell POKT securely.
What Is Pocket Network Tokenomics?
POKT has a large fixed maximum supply of just over 2.3 billion tokens, with the majority already in circulation. The protocol follows a utility-driven issuance model, where new POKT is minted primarily to reward node operators for successfully serving data relays. At the same time, developers must stake POKT to access network throughput, creating continuous demand tied directly to real infrastructure usage rather than speculation alone.
Following major protocol upgrades, Pocket Network has introduced deflationary mechanics, where a portion of relay-related emissions can be offset or burned as network usage grows. This shift gradually reduces net token inflation as adoption increases, helping balance supply growth with demand. Overall, POKT tokenomics are structured to reward reliable infrastructure providers, encourage long-term participation, and tie the token’s value closely to actual Web3 data consumption.