IOTA

IOTA is an open-source Layer 1 that uses a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) architecture rather than a traditional linear blockchain, combined with the Move virtual machine for smart contracts. The IOTA token secures the network and pays fees, and the project positions itself as public digital infrastructure for connecting global economies on-chain, with a notable focus on real-world trade and supply chains.

What is IOTA?

Founded in 2015, IOTA is one of the longest-running projects in the digital asset space, guided by the non-profit IOTA Foundation. Its modern incarnation is a permissionless Layer 1 supporting smart contracts, digital assets and digital identity. What sets IOTA apart is its emphasis on live, real-world deployments: it works with governments and industry partners on digitalized trade documentation, digital product passports and cross-border asset flows, including flagship initiatives like the Trade Worldwide Information Network (TWIN).

How does IOTA work?

IOTA is built on a DAG rather than a chain of blocks, a structure that supports parallel transaction processing, low fees and scalability. It integrates the Move VM, a smart-contract environment designed with safety in mind. The network is secured by a delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) model and governed through on-chain mechanisms. The IOTA token is used for network participation, staking and validator rewards, with fees paid in IOTA and burned. Additional features like refundable storage deposits and sponsored transactions let applications manage costs and hide blockchain complexity from end users, which helps adoption in regulated settings.

IOTA tokenomics and supply

IOTA does not have a fixed hard cap in the classic sense; its circulating supply is around 4.52 billion IOTA against a total near 4.93 billion. Fee burning offsets some issuance, while staking rewards and storage-deposit mechanics shape supply dynamics over time. The token reached an all-time high near $5.25 and an all-time low around $0.034, reflecting the long history and multiple market cycles the project has weathered since 2015.

Network facts

• Architecture: Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) with the Move VM
• Consensus: delegated proof of stake
• Circulating supply: about 4.52 billion IOTA
• Founded: 2015 under the IOTA Foundation

What is IOTA used for?

Beyond staking and fees, IOTA targets infrastructure and DePIN-style use cases with a strong real-world bent: digital trade documents, business identity, supply-chain data sharing and asset flows across borders. By embedding into national and cross-border trade systems, IOTA aims to provide shared, verifiable data across networks of public and private participants, positioning the token as fuel for that verifiable infrastructure.

Where to buy IOTA

IOTA is an established, widely listed asset available through the exchanges in our best crypto exchanges ranking, which lets you compare fees, liquidity and regional support. To hold IOTA securely and participate in staking, our best crypto wallets guide covers compatible non-custodial options.

Is IOTA a good investment?

IOTA pairs a long track record and genuine enterprise partnerships with the execution risk of a project that has reinvented its architecture over the years. Real-world adoption can be slow to translate into token demand, and the asset has proven volatile across cycles. This is not financial advice; weigh IOTA's delivery on trade and supply-chain deployments, its tokenomics and your own risk tolerance before investing.