What Is Flow (FLOW) and How Does It Work?
Flow is a high-performance,
layer-1 blockchain built specifically for
games,
NFTs, and consumer applications. It was developed by Dapper Labs, the team behind CryptoKitties and NBA Top Shot, to solve the scalability limitations of earlier blockchains like Ethereum without compromising decentralization or usability. FLOW is the native token of the network, used for transaction fees, staking, governance, and payments within
dApps.
Flow’s architecture is unique because it splits the roles of a traditional blockchain node into four separate types: Collector, Consensus, Execution, and Verification nodes. This multi-node design enables Flow to process transactions in parallel, allowing high throughput and low latency. The network uses a Proof-of-Stake (
PoS) consensus mechanism, with
validators staking FLOW tokens to secure the chain.
Smart contracts on Flow are written in Cadence, a resource-oriented programming language optimized for secure and predictable NFT and asset management. This design makes Flow highly scalable, developer-friendly, and ideal for
Web3 consumer apps.
When Was Flow Blockchain Launched and Who Created It?
Flow was announced on September 12, 2019, by Dapper Labs (formerly Axiom Zen), the creators of CryptoKitties and NBA Top Shot. Backed by a $11 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with support from Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, and Animoca Brands, Flow was designed as a high-performance blockchain tailored for consumer apps and digital collectibles. A developer preview followed in late 2019, offering early access to smart contract tools and the testnet. The Flow mainnet officially launched in June 2020, minting 1.25 billion FLOW tokens at genesis. By December 2020, validator rewards were enabled, allowing FLOW holders to participate in
staking and earn incentives.
Flow was created by the team at Dapper Labs, a blockchain-focused company founded in February 2018 in Vancouver, Canada. The project’s leadership includes Roham Gharegozlou (CEO), Dieter Shirley (Chief Architect and co-author of the ERC-721 NFT standard), and Mikhael Naayem (co-founder and business strategist). With expertise spanning blockchain development, game design, and cryptography, the team built Flow to support large-scale, consumer-facing applications with speed, scalability, and ease of use.
Flow’s ongoing roadmap (as of mid-2025) focuses on:
1. Scaling – Preparing for up to 1 million TPS and massive unsharded state storage.
2. Protocol Autonomy – Achieving full decentralization and Byzantine fault tolerance, enabling permissionless validator participation.
3. Security Enhancements – Automating slash-and-punish for misbehaving nodes and expanding the validator set (currently 440+ validators).
4. Developer Ergonomics – Upgrading Cadence, improving contract migration, and enabling
EVM compatibility (Crescendo upgrade Sep 2024).
What Are the Key Use Cases of FLOW Token?
Here are the main use cases of the FLOW token:
1. Staking & Network Security – FLOW is required to run validator or collector
nodes and to delegate to them, helping secure the network. Validators and delegators earn rewards in return.
2. Transaction & Storage Fees – It pays for transaction execution (“gas”) and on-chain storage deposits (like smart contracts or NFTs).
3. Medium of Exchange – FLOW serves as the primary currency within Flow-based dApps for buying NFTs, participating in games, or using DeFi services.
4. Governance & Collateral – Staked FLOW grants voting rights over protocol upgrades and can be used as collateral in DeFi applications on Flow.
You can trade
FLOW/USDT easily on BingX by opening a
spot market order. Simply create and fund your account, navigate to the FLOW/USDT spot pair in the Markets section, and execute buy or sell orders using
limit or market prices for immediate settlement
What Is Flow Network Tokenomics?
Flow (FLOW) has a fixed
total supply of 1.25 billion tokens, all of which were minted at the time of the genesis block in June 2020. There is no ongoing minting or inflationary issuance, making it a non-inflationary asset. The FLOW token powers all economic activities on the Flow blockchain, including transaction fees, validator rewards, governance participation, and as a medium of exchange for dApps, games, and NFTs.
At launch, the initial allocation was distributed among ecosystem partners, developers, community sales (via CoinList), Dapper Labs, and network participants. A large portion was set aside for long-term ecosystem development, with staking rewards distributed from the reserved pool, not through inflation. Token holders can stake FLOW or delegate it to validators to earn passive rewards. As of 2025, a significant portion of tokens are either staked or actively used in the ecosystem, reflecting a maturing and utility-driven token economy.
How to Stake FLOW Tokens on Flow Network
Staking FLOW tokens on the Flow network allows you to earn passive income by helping secure the blockchain through delegation or running a validator node:
1. Choose Your Method: Use Flow Port (via Blocto, Ledger, or Blocto wallets) or command-line tooling to stake by either running your own node or delegating to existing validators.
2. Set Up and Fund Your Wallet
• Install and connect a
wallet like Blocto, Port, or Ledger.
• Transfer FLOW tokens to your wallet.
• Within Flow Port, navigate to Stake & Delegate, choose to either stake (if running a node) or delegate to a validator.
3. Stake or Delegate FLOW
• For node runners: submit node details + stake minimum required tokens.
• For delegators: pick a validator, enter the FLOW amount to delegate, and confirm the transaction.
4. Earn Rewards & Manage Stakes
• Rewards accrue weekly and are viewable in Flow Port.
• You can restake rewards, withdraw them, or unstake your delegated FLOW (typically taking 1 epoch ≈ 7 days).
What Makes Flow Different From Other Blockchains?
Flow stands out from other blockchains by using a unique multi-role architecture that separates the tasks of consensus, computation, and verification across four specialized node types, Collector, Consensus, Execution, and Verification nodes. This design allows Flow to achieve high throughput and low latency without relying on
sharding or
layer-2 solutions. It enables parallel transaction processing, which is ideal for consumer-scale applications like games, social apps, and NFTs.
Another key differentiator is Flow’s native smart contract language, Cadence, which is designed for safety, simplicity, and efficient asset management. Unlike Ethereum, Flow is not
EVM-compatible, but Cadence's resource-oriented approach makes it easier to build secure dApps and NFT platforms. With mainstream adoption in mind, Flow offers a developer-friendly environment and supports familiar Web2 onboarding flows like email logins and fiat payments, making it one of the most accessible and scalable layer-1 blockchains for Web3 consumer apps.
What Wallets Support FLOW Tokens?
When it comes to storing FLOW tokens, the easiest option is your BingX wallet. You can securely buy, hold, and trade FLOW directly in the app or website after completing
KYC, enabling instant access to deposit, withdrawal, and spot trading functionality. This is ideal for users who want a seamless experience, but if you prefer full control of your
private keys, several
non-custodial wallets are available.
Flow’s ecosystem supports a wide range of wallets beyond centralized exchanges. Flow Wallet offers a native interface for Cadence-based dApps and NFTs with built-in staking support. Dapper Wallet, the official custodial option, is tailored for NFT collectors with smart contract-based key security. Blocto combines convenience and control, offering email login, swap functions, staking, and NFT access. For users seeking full self-custody, NuFi supports cross-chain FLOW management and integrates with hardware wallets. Ledger provides cold storage for FLOW and NFTs via Ledger Live, making it ideal for long-term holders, while Finoa caters to institutional users with regulated custody and staking services.
Can Developers Port dApps From Ethereum to Flow Network?
Developers can port dApps from Ethereum to the Flow network, but they must rewrite their smart contracts using Cadence, Flow’s native resource-oriented programming language. While Flow is not EVM-compatible, its design prioritizes security, scalability, and ease of use, especially for NFTs and digital assets, making it well-suited for consumer-facing applications. Developers can take advantage of Flow’s powerful tools, such as the Flow Client Library (FCL) and emulator, along with comprehensive documentation and SDKs to rebuild and optimize Ethereum-based dApps for Flow’s high-throughput architecture.
Are Flow's NFTs Eco-Friendly?
Flow’s NFTs are remarkably eco-friendly: by using a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism alongside Flow’s unique multi-node architecture, the network consumes just 0.18 GWh annually, equivalent to minting an NFT requiring less energy than a single Google search or Instagram post. Deloitte Canada’s independent analysis highlights how Flow’s design ensures that even if transaction volumes grow significantly, overall energy usage remains largely unchanged because only the execution nodes scale, making Flow one of the most environmentally efficient blockchains for NFTs.
Is Flow (FLOW) a Good Investment?
Flow (FLOW) is considered a strong investment prospect due to its unique positioning in the Web3 ecosystem, particularly in powering mainstream NFT and entertainment applications. Backed by Dapper Labs and trusted by major brands like NBA, NFL, and Disney, Flow has shown consistent adoption across consumer-focused platforms. Its June 2025 upgrade and integration with Disney+ brought blockchain experiences to tens of millions of users, boosting on-chain activity and total value locked (TVL). This level of real-world utility and scalability gives Flow a competitive edge over many general-purpose blockchains.
Additionally, Flow’s capped supply of 1.25 billion tokens, combined with staking incentives and low energy consumption, makes its tokenomics attractive for long-term holders. The network’s proof-of-stake architecture and multi-node infrastructure support high throughput and cost efficiency, making it ideal for dApps at scale. While the FLOW token has seen price volatility, typical for altcoins, it maintains a strong foundational use case and growing ecosystem. As adoption deepens and more developers build on Flow, the token may benefit from sustained demand and value appreciation over time.