What Is OpenLedger (OPEN)? A Deep Dive Into the Future of AI Blockchain

Summary Box (Quick Facts)

• Ticker Symbol: OPEN

• Chain: Built as an Ethereum Layer-2

• Circulating Supply: 215,500,000 OPEN

• Max Supply: 1,000,000,000 OPEN

• Primary Use Case: Decentralized AI, data monetization, and verifiable model training.

• Current Market Cap: Data varies; check a reliable source for the latest figures.

• Availability on Phemex: Yes (Spot, Futures, OPEN Listing Feast)

What Is OpenLedger?

OpenLedger explained: OpenLedger (OPEN) is a Layer-1 blockchain protocol purpose-built for the age of Artificial Intelligence. It functions as a dedicated AI-blockchain infrastructure for training and deploying specialized models using community-owned datasets, known as Datanets.

The project aims to solve one of the biggest challenges in the AI industry: the opaque and centralized control of data. OpenLedger’s core strength lies in its on-chain transparency. Every critical action—from dataset uploads and model training to reward distribution and governance voting—is executed and recorded directly on the blockchain.

This unique structure allows any user to create their own private Datanets, contribute to public ones, build custom AI models, and publish them for others to use. The entire process is governed by transparent tokenized mechanics, ensuring that every contribution is tracked, attributed, and fairly compensated.

In short, OpenLedger is building the foundation for a collectively owned AI economy, moving away from a model dominated by a few large corporations. Explore foundational crypto concepts like this at the Phemex Academy.

How Many OPEN Are There?

OpenLedger (OPEN) has a fixed maximum supply of 1 billion tokens, creating a clear and predictable economic structure. At its public launch, the initial circulating supply was 21.55% of the total, equivalent to 215.5 million OPEN.

The token distribution is strategically designed to foster long-term growth, decentralization, and robust community engagement. The allocations are broken down as follows:

• Community: 51.7% - The largest portion is dedicated to the community to encourage widespread adoption and reward participants. This allocation notably includes 5% reserved for airdrops to early supporters and contributors.

• Investors: 18.29% - Allocated to early backers who provided the foundational capital for the project's development.

• Team: 15.00% - Reserved for the founding team and core contributors to incentivize their ongoing commitment to the project's success.

• Ecosystem: 10.00% - Earmarked for grants, partnerships, and other initiatives designed to expand the OpenLedger ecosystem and support developers building on the platform.

• Liquidity: 5.00% - Designated to provide sufficient liquidity on cryptocurrency exchanges, ensuring a smooth and stable trading experience for all users.

To promote market stability and align all stakeholders with the long-term vision, tokens allocated to the team and investors are subject to a 12-month lock-up period, followed by a 36-month linear vesting schedule. This gradual release mechanism prevents abrupt market impacts and reinforces a commitment to the project's sustained success.

What Does OPEN Do?

The OPEN token is the lifeblood of the OpenLedger ecosystem, serving several essential functions. The primary OpenLedger use case is to facilitate a decentralized AI economy. Here’s how it works:

• Transaction & Gas Fees: All operations on the OpenLedger network, from data submissions to AI model computations, require OPEN tokens to pay for gas fees.

• Proof of Attribution: This is OpenLedger’s core innovation. Data contributors are rewarded with OPEN tokens whenever their data is used to train AI models, ensuring fair compensation and incentivizing high-quality data sharing.

• AI Model Services: Developers use OPEN to pay for training and deploying AI models. This also enables a "Payable AI" system, where end-users can make micropayments in OPEN for each interaction with an AI model.

• Staking: To ensure network integrity, AI agents and validators must stake OPEN tokens. This stake can be slashed (i.e., forfeited) if they provide poor service or act maliciously, securing the network against bad actors.

• Governance: OPEN holders can vote on key protocol decisions, such as network upgrades, fee structures, and ecosystem grants, giving the community control over the platform's future.

Ready to get started? You can Trade OPEN on Phemex.

OpenLedger vs. Ethereum

While OpenLedger is built as an Ethereum Layer-2, its specialized focus creates important distinctions. Ethereum is a general-purpose blockchain, whereas OpenLedger is tailored specifically for AI.

The Technology Behind OPEN

OpenLedger’s technical architecture is engineered for high performance and efficiency, making it a robust platform for AI applications.

• Consensus Mechanism: As a Layer-2, OpenLedger batches transactions and submits them to the Ethereum mainnet, effectively inheriting Ethereum's robust Proof-of-Stake (PoS) security.

• Unique Technologies: It is built using Optimism's OP Stack, a standardized development stack for creating scalable and interoperable Layer-2 blockchains. For data availability, it integrates EigenDA, a specialized solution that significantly reduces the cost of storing transaction data on-chain.

• Infrastructure and Partnerships: Its EVM-compatible nature allows developers to easily use familiar Ethereum tools and smart contracts. The project is supported by notable venture capital firms like Polychain Capital and HashKey Capital, providing it with a strong foundation for growth and development.

Team & Origins

OpenLedger was founded in 2024 by Pryce Adade-Yebesi (CEO) and Ashtyn Bell. Yebesi was previously the founder of Utopia Labs, a crypto payments company, where he identified the need for more sophisticated on-chain solutions for emerging industries like AI. This insight led to the creation of OpenLedger.

The project has garnered significant support from the venture capital community, successfully raising $15 million in funding from prominent investors. The team's clear vision and strong backing have positioned OpenLedger as a serious contender in the decentralized AI space.

Key News & Events

OpenLedger has achieved several critical milestones since its inception. Staying up-to-date with news about OPEN is key to understanding its trajectory.

• Successful Fundraising: The project secured $15 million in funding from top-tier VCs, signaling strong market confidence.

• Massive Testnet Adoption: Before its mainnet launch, the OpenLedger testnet saw over 6 million registered nodes, 25 million transactions, and 20,000 AI models built, demonstrating huge developer interest.

• Mainnet and Token Launch: The OpenLedger mainnet and its native OPEN token officially launched in September 2025, marking its public debut.

• Major Exchange Listings: Following its launch, the OPEN token was listed on premier cryptocurrency platforms like Phemex, providing liquidity and accessibility to a global user base.

Is OPEN a Good Investment?

Determining the OPEN investment potential requires careful consideration of its strengths and associated risks.

Potential Strengths:

• First-Mover Advantage: It is one of the first and most technologically advanced blockchains built specifically for the booming AI industry.

• Solves a Real Problem: Its "Proof of Attribution" model directly addresses the critical issue of data compensation and transparency in AI.

• Strong Community & Backing: Significant VC funding and massive testnet engagement suggest a strong foundation for growth. The OPEN price may reflect this long-term potential.

Potential Risks:

• Market Volatility: Like all cryptocurrencies, OPEN is subject to significant price fluctuations.

• Competition: The decentralized AI space is growing, and OpenLedger will face competition from other projects.

• Regulatory Headwinds: The global regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies remains uncertain and could impact the project's operations.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Crypto trading involves significant risks; only invest what you can afford to lose. Always conduct your own research.

How to Buy OPEN on Phemex

Phemex offers a seamless and secure platform for purchasing and trading OPEN. For a step-by-step walkthrough, please visit our detailed guide on How to buy OpenLedger.

FAQs

What is the main goal of OpenLedger?
OpenLedger's main goal is to create a decentralized, transparent, and equitable infrastructure for AI development. It enables anyone to contribute data and be fairly compensated, breaking down the walled gardens of centralized AI companies and fostering collective ownership.

What is the "Payable AI" concept?
"Payable AI" is a system built on OpenLedger where developers can deploy AI models that end-users can pay to use on a per-query basis. This is facilitated through micro-transactions using the OPEN token, creating a direct and efficient monetization model for AI creators.

Why is a specialized blockchain needed for AI?
AI applications require extremely high transaction throughput, low fees, and a verifiable way to track vast amounts of data. General-purpose blockchains like Ethereum can be too slow and expensive for these needs. OpenLedger's specialized architecture is optimized to handle these unique demands efficiently.