About LEO Token (LEO)

What is UNUS SED LEO (LEO)?

LEO is Bitfinex’s in-house utility token, issued by iFinex in 2019. It began as a one-off recovery measure but quickly turned into a permanent piece of the exchange’s ecosystem. Holders use it for trading and lending discounts, smaller withdrawal fees, and other perks across iFinex services — something between a loyalty badge and a cost-saving tool.

How does the LEO token model work?

LEO sits on two networks — Ethereum and EOS — roughly a 64/36 split. Each month, iFinex spends 27% of its revenue buying tokens back and burning them. There’s no end date: the process runs until supply hits zero. In effect, good business months mean fewer tokens left in circulation.

What makes the burn system unusual?

Most exchange coins inflate their supply. LEO does the reverse. Every month iFinex removes tokens from the market and posts the transactions publicly. It’s a straightforward idea — using profits to create scarcity — but few projects actually follow through this transparently.

How was LEO originally sold?

Instead of a public ICO, iFinex went with a private sale on 21 May 2019, priced at $1 per token. In under a week the team raised $1 billion USD, closing one of crypto’s fastest fundraising rounds at the time.

Who took part in the sale?

Funding came from a small circle of long-time partners. Among them was SNZ Holding, a venture firm active in early-stage crypto deals. The raise accepted BTC, USD, and USDT, showing how closely the company’s ecosystem was already linked to both fiat and stablecoins.

How was the supply structured?

The setup couldn’t be simpler: 1 billion LEO, all sold in that single event. No team reserves, no community airdrops, no future unlocks. Since launch, the circulating amount has only declined through the monthly burns.

Are there any vesting or release schedules?

None. Every token was unlocked from day one, and iFinex never used vesting contracts. Supply changes only through buybacks, not timed releases — which means no dilution events waiting down the line.

Where can LEO be traded?

The deepest liquidity is still on Bitfinex, but you’ll also find pairs on Binance and OKX. The main market is LEO/USDT, giving traders stablecoin exposure. As expected, Bitfinex remains the natural center for both usage and volume.

What are the practical uses of LEO?

Holding LEO brings tiered fee discounts on Bitfinex. Larger balances unlock higher savings on trading, lending, deposits, and withdrawals. Over time, iFinex has quietly added new ways to apply it across its wider network of products.

Does LEO follow a public roadmap?

Not exactly. Its evolution mirrors iFinex’s business rather than a standalone protocol plan. The company focuses on transparent burns, cross-chain integration, and future DeFi compatibility — steady, incremental progress rather than headline promises.

What risks should be kept in mind?

LEO’s value depends on Bitfinex’s performance and how regulators treat centralized exchanges. It also relies on Ethereum and EOS networks running smoothly. Still, the ongoing burn-and-revenue link gives it a grounding that most exchange tokens never achieve.