What is CoinEx Token (CET)?

Quick Facts

• Launched: January 2018, originally as an ERC-20 token
• Founded by: Haipo Yang, blockchain entrepreneur and investor
• Native chain: CoinEx Smart Chain (CSC), an EVM-compatible Layer 1
• Primary utility: Trading fee discounts, VIP membership, gas on CSC
• Burn mechanism: 20% of daily trading fee income used to repurchase and burn CET monthly
• Governance: CET holders can vote on platform proposals
• Also supports: Staking, DApp development, and decentralized trading

Introduction

CoinEx Token (CET) is the native utility and governance token of the CoinEx ecosystem. It serves as the primary medium of value exchange across the exchange's products, from spot trading to futures and decentralized finance.

Initially issued on Ethereum as an ERC-20 asset, CET has evolved into the gas token powering the CoinEx Smart Chain (CSC) — the exchange's own proprietary blockchain. Its role has grown from a simple fee-discount token into a core piece of a broader crypto ecosystem.

History & Background

CoinEx was founded in 2017, and CET followed in January 2018. The token was conceived to align user incentives with the growth of the exchange, rewarding active traders and long-term holders alike.

In 2021, CoinEx executed a major strategic shift: migrating CET to the newly launched CoinEx Smart Chain, a move that also saw a significant portion of the supply permanently burned. This transition marked CET's evolution from exchange token to full ecosystem fuel.

How CoinEx Token Works

CET operates on the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus model on CoinEx Smart Chain. Validators are required to stake CET to participate in block generation, locking up a meaningful portion of supply long-term.

Because CSC is EVM-compatible, developers can deploy Ethereum-based smart contracts directly onto the chain using familiar tools. This lowers the barrier for DApp creation and broadens CET's on-chain utility beyond the exchange itself.

Tokenomics

CET follows a deflationary economic model. Each day, CoinEx allocates 20% of its platform trading fee revenue to repurchase CET from the open market. All repurchased tokens are then permanently burned at the end of each calendar month.

This daily buyback cadence distinguishes CET from exchange tokens that burn on a quarterly basis, creating more consistent downward pressure on supply. The burn cycle continues until the supply is significantly reduced, reinforcing long-term scarcity. CET is distributed through trading fee rebates, airdrops, team incentives, and global promotions.

Ecosystem & Use Cases

CET is deeply integrated across the CoinEx product suite:

• Trading fee discounts — Paying fees with CET unlocks tiered reductions across spot, margin, and futures markets.
• VIP membership — Holding CET unlocks tiered VIP status with perks like faster withdrawals, exclusive support, and promotional access.
• Gas on CSC — CET powers all transactions and smart contract interactions on the CoinEx Smart Chain.
• Governance — Holders can initiate and vote on platform proposals, from new token listings to protocol upgrades.
• Staking rewards — CET can be staked to earn rewards while supporting network security.
• DApp ecosystem — CSC hosts a growing suite of decentralized applications funded and accessed via CET.

Team, Governance & Community

CoinEx was founded by Haipo Yang, a well-known figure in the blockchain industry. The team comprises professionals in finance, technology, and blockchain development.

Governance is embedded in the token itself — CET holders can submit and vote on proposals, giving the community a direct voice in the platform's direction. CoinEx also operates CoinEx Charity, a non-profit arm focused on education, poverty relief, and medical support.

Advantages

• Real utility — CET is used for fees, gas, staking, governance, and VIP access across multiple products.
• Aggressive burn mechanism — Daily buybacks with monthly burns create consistent deflationary pressure.
• EVM compatibility — CSC supports Ethereum smart contracts, attracting developers and DApps.
• Tiered incentives — The VIP system rewards larger holders with compounding benefits.
• Broad ecosystem — CET spans a centralized exchange, a smart chain, a wallet, and a block explorer.

Risks & Challenges

• Exchange dependency — CET's value is closely tied to CoinEx's trading volume and platform growth.
• Competitive market — Exchange tokens from Binance, OKX, and others compete for similar utility niches.
• Regulatory exposure — As a centralized exchange token, CET faces ongoing regulatory scrutiny globally.
• Security history — CoinEx has experienced security incidents in the past, highlighting custodial risks inherent to CEX-linked tokens.

Long-Term Vision

CoinEx aims to extend CET's utility well beyond the exchange, including integration into payment scenarios and broader Web3 applications. As CSC's DApp ecosystem matures, CET's role as a gas token anchors it to real on-chain demand.

The combination of a deflationary supply model, expanding ecosystem utility, and governance participation positions CET as a token designed for sustained relevance in a competitive landscape.