What is Ontology Gas (ONG)?

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Utility in the Ontology Ecosystem

ONG is the fuel for the Ontology blockchain. Every transaction, smart contract execution, and data exchange on the network requires ONG to pay fees, similar to how ETH powers Ethereum. This design ensures resources are used efficiently and prevents network spam.

Ontology employs a dual-token model: ONT is the governance token for staking and voting, while ONG is the pure utility token for operations. This separation helps stabilize transaction costs because gas fees are priced in ONG, insulating users from the price volatility of the staking asset (ONT). The ecosystem focuses on decentralized identity (via ONT ID) and data management, with ONG facilitating all on-chain activity for these services.

2. Tokenomics & Governance Structure

ONG's economics are designed for long-term predictability. In 2025, the community approved a proposal to permanently reduce the total supply cap from 1 billion to 800 million ONG, burning 200 million tokens (PANews). A portion of assets was also permanently locked to enhance liquidity.

New ONG is emitted at a constant rate of 1 token per second over 19 years. This emission is strategically allocated: 80% rewards users who stake ONT, incentivizing network security, while 20% (plus all transaction fees) supports ecological liquidity. Furthermore, community governance directly impacts its utility, as seen in January 2026 when a vote successfully reduced on-chain gas fees by 80% to improve cost-effectiveness (TradingView).

Conclusion

Ontology Gas is fundamentally the operational fuel for a blockchain built on trust, enabling secure digital identity and data transactions through a disciplined, community-governed economic model. How will its role evolve as Ontology integrates its identity stack with AI and data monetization?