Ontology

Ontology (ONT) is a layer 1 blockchain focused on decentralized identity and data, best known for its ONT ID self-sovereign identity framework. It uses a dual-token model; ONT is the fixed-supply staking and governance token, while ONG is the gas token that pays for transactions and is released over time to ONT stakers.

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What Is Ontology?

Ontology (ticker ONT) is a layer 1 blockchain built around decentralized identity and data. While most smart contract platforms compete on general-purpose DeFi or NFTs, Ontology positions itself as a "trust layer" for Web3: its flagship product, ONT ID, lets people and organizations control their own digital identities and verifiable credentials without handing data to a central provider. The network also offers a decentralized data exchange framework and reputation tooling, aimed at enterprises that want blockchain-based trust infrastructure without rebuilding their existing systems.

Overview - Table of Contents
What Is Ontology?
Getting Started With Ontology
How To Get An Ontology Wallet?
Ontology Resources
How To Buy Ontology?
Latest Ontology News

Ontology was founded in 2017 by Li Jun, a blockchain architect with a long background in IT and fintech who was also a co-founder of OnChain, the Shanghai-based company behind the NEO blockchain. Ontology and NEO are separate projects with separate teams and tokens, but they share a common heritage, and the two networks have collaborated as strategic technology partners. Reflecting that lineage, ONT began life as a NEP-5 token on NEO; there was no public ICO; early tokens went out through community airdrops, including a March 2018 airdrop to NEO holders, alongside allocations to the core team, the NEO Council, institutional partners, and ecosystem development. The Ontology mainnet went live on June 30, 2018, and NEP-5 ONT was swapped for native mainnet ONT.

Technically, Ontology runs a consensus mechanism called VBFT, which combines proof of stake, a verifiable random function (VRF), and Byzantine fault tolerance. Consensus is carried out by a rotating set of staked validators known as Triones nodes, selected with the help of verifiable randomness, which gives the chain fast finality and short block times. The platform supports multiple virtual machines, including its own NeoVM and WasmVM as well as an Ethereum-compatible EVM, so developers can deploy Solidity contracts and use familiar Ethereum tooling on Ontology.

Ontology's most distinctive design choice is its dual-token model. ONT is the staking and governance token: its supply is fixed at 1 billion, and holders stake it with Triones nodes to secure the network and vote on governance proposals. ONG (Ontology Gas) is a separate token that serves as the network's fuel; every transaction and smart contract execution is paid for in ONG, not ONT. New ONG is released gradually by the protocol and flows primarily to ONT stakers as rewards. The idea is to separate ownership of the network (ONT) from the cost of using it (ONG), so long-term stakeholders earn the gas token that day-to-day users consume.

ONG's monetary policy was originally set to release 1 billion ONG over roughly 18 years. In October 2025, Ontology's node operators unanimously approved a tokenomics adjustment that cut ONG's maximum supply from 1 billion to 800 million, burned 200 million ONG immediately, and committed to locking assets worth a further 100 million ONG. The release rate stays constant at 1 ONG per second, extending the emission period to about 19 years, with 80 percent of newly released ONG going to staking incentives and the remainder, plus transaction fees, supporting ecosystem liquidity. The changes activated with Ontology MainNet v3.0.0 in December 2025.

Beyond the base chain, the Ontology ecosystem includes ONT ID for decentralized identity and verifiable credentials, the ONTO wallet for self-sovereign identity and asset management across chains, a cross-chain bridge connecting Ontology with Ethereum, and data frameworks that let users share or monetize data on their own terms. The project reports that more than 1 million ONT IDs have been created.

Getting Started With Ontology

Getting started with Ontology usually means holding ONT, staking it to earn ONG, or trying its identity tools:

Step 1: Download a wallet that supports Ontology, such as the official ONTO mobile wallet or the OWallet desktop wallet.
Step 2: Acquire ONT on an exchange and withdraw it to your wallet. Keep a small amount of ONG on hand, since all transaction fees are paid in ONG rather than ONT.
Step 3: Stake your ONT with a Triones node to help secure the network and earn ONG rewards.
Step 4: Create an ONT ID to explore Ontology's decentralized identity features, including verifiable credentials you control yourself.

How to Get an Ontology Wallet?

Because Ontology uses its own chain with the ONT and ONG token pair, the most reliable options are the project's official wallets.

ONTO Wallet

ONTO is Ontology's official self-sovereign wallet, available on mobile. It manages ONT, ONG, and assets on other chains, and it is the easiest way to create and use an ONT ID for decentralized identity.

OWallet

OWallet is Ontology's official desktop wallet. It supports holding and staking ONT, claiming ONG rewards, and participating in governance votes such as node elections.

Hardware Wallets

For larger holdings, a hardware wallet such as a Ledger device can be used with OWallet to keep private keys offline while still staking and claiming rewards.

Ontology Resources

How to Buy Ontology?

ONT and its companion gas token ONG are both traded on major exchanges, though most liquidity sits on centralized venues.

Centralized Exchanges

ONT is listed on major exchanges including Binance, OKX, KuCoin, Gate, and HTX, typically against USDT. ONG is also listed on several of the same venues, including Binance and OKX, which is convenient since you need a little ONG to pay fees on the Ontology network.

Decentralized Exchanges

Decentralized trading options for ONT are more limited than for tokens on larger smart contract platforms. Ontology operates an official bridge that connects the network with Ethereum, and staking ONT directly through an official wallet is the main on-chain way to accumulate ONG without using an exchange.

Latest Ontology News

Ontology's biggest recent change is the ONG tokenomics overhaul. After a unanimous on-chain vote by Triones node operators in October 2025, the network cut ONG's maximum supply from 1 billion to 800 million, burned 200 million ONG, and pledged to lock assets worth another 100 million ONG, while keeping emissions at a steady 1 ONG per second over a roughly 19-year schedule. The changes shipped with the MainNet v3.0.0 upgrade in December 2025.

The project continues to focus on decentralized identity and compliant Web3 infrastructure, including stablecoin integrations and its ONT ID and ONTO wallet products. Because staking yields, emission parameters, and exchange listings change over time, the official website, documentation, and block explorer are the best sources for the current state of the network.