LEO Token Price Today
UNUS SED LEO (LEO) is a utility token used across the iFinex ecosystem, which includes the Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange and the EthFinex trading platform. Launched in May 2019, UNUS SED LEO was created to enhance operational efficiency across iFinex platforms, offering trading fee discounts, reduced lending fees, and preferred rates for exchange services.
Unlike standard exchange tokens, LEO features a programmatic token burn protocol funded directly by iFinex group revenues. The system allocates at least 27% of consolidated gross revenues toward repurchasing and burning LEO tokens from the open market until no commercial tokens remain in public circulation.
| Market Metric | Live Status / Value |
| Market Cap Rank | Top 20 Cryptocurrencies |
| Market Cap | Live |
| 24h Volume | Live |
| 24h High / Low | Live |
LEO Price Charts
The live UNUS SED LEO price chart displays the latest LEO market movements across supporting crypto exchanges.
LEO trades on centralized cryptocurrency platforms. Its market price fluctuates based on trading volume on Bitfinex, iFinex revenue performance, open-market token burn mechanics, exchange liquidity, and overall crypto market conditions.
LEO Token Market Statistics
The live market-data section provides key financial and network statistics for UNUS SED LEO (LEO):
| LEO Token Metric | Current Information |
| Cryptocurrency | UNUS SED LEO |
| Symbol | LEO |
| Blockchain Networks | Ethereum (ERC-20) / EOS |
| Consensus / Infrastructure | Exchange Utility & Deflationary Buyback Token |
| Primary Utility | Fee Discounts, Margin Reductions, Revenue-Backed Buybacks |
| Market Cap | Live |
| 24-Hour Trading Volume | Live |
| Circulating Supply | ~920,000,000 LEO |
| Total Supply | ~920,000,000 LEO |
| Maximum Supply | 1,000,000,000 LEO (Deflationary) |
| Fully Diluted Valuation | Live |
| All-Time High | $10.61 |
| ATH Date | May 4, 2026 |
| All-Time Low | $0.799 |
| ATL Date | December 23, 2019 |
What Is UNUS SED LEO?
UNUS SED LEO is an exchange utility token issued by iFinex Inc., the parent company behind Bitfinex.
The project was launched following a $1 billion private placement in May 2019. The token’s primary objective is to provide tangible benefits to traders and liquidity providers on iFinex platforms while reducing operational platform costs.
The token name derives from Aesop’s fable “The Sow and the Bitch”, translated from Latin as “One, but a lion”—symbolizing quality over quantity.
What Is LEO Used For?
The LEO token provides utility within the Bitfinex and iFinex trading ecosystem:
- Exchange Fee Discounts: Traders holding LEO receive tiered fee reductions on crypto-to-crypto, fiat-to-crypto, and derivatives trading fees on Bitfinex.
- Peer-to-Peer Financing Discounts: Platform lenders holding LEO receive fee reductions on funding earned through Bitfinex’s peer-to-peer margin financing market.
- Withdrawal and Deposit Discounts: LEO holders enjoy fee rebates when making cryptocurrency and fiat deposits or withdrawals on supported iFinex platforms.
- Deflationary Buyback Protocol: iFinex uses at least 27% of its gross revenues to continuously buy back and burn LEO at prevailing market rates until no commercial supply remains in circulation.
Who Created UNUS SED LEO?
UNUS SED LEO was created by iFinex Inc., the parent organization of Bitfinex, founded by Giancarlo Devasini and JL van der Velde.
The development, issuance, and ongoing buyback execution for LEO are managed by iFinex, supported by its internal legal, financial, and engineering teams.
When Was UNUS SED LEO Launched?
UNUS SED LEO was issued in May 2019 via a private token sale, raising $1 billion in Tether (USDT) within 10 days to cover a capital deficit linked to payment processor Crypto Capital.
Trading for LEO began on Bitfinex shortly after on May 22, 2019, at an initial sale price of $1.00 per token.
How Does UNUS SED LEO Work?
UNUS SED LEO works as a dual-chain utility asset deployed on both Ethereum (as an ERC-20 token) and EOS.
Token Burn Mechanism
- iFinex Revenue Repurchase: Every month, iFinex buys back LEO tokens using a minimum of 27% of consolidated gross revenues.
- Recovered Funds Repurchase: If iFinex recovers funds previously lost or confiscated from historical incidents (such as the 2016 Bitfinex security breach), at least 80% of net recovered funds are committed to repurchasing LEO tokens over an 18-month period.
- Immediate Token Burning: All repurchased LEO tokens are immediately sent to a publicly verifiable burn address, permanently reducing the circulating supply.
Where and How to Buy LEO Token
From Where to Buy LEO Token
UNUS SED LEO (LEO) is available on both centralized exchanges (CEXs) and decentralized protocols (DEXs):
1. Centralized Exchanges (CEXs)
- Bitfinex: As the primary native platform for LEO, Bitfinex provides the highest liquidity, tightest spreads, and lowest slippage across trading pairs including
LEO/USDT,LEO/USD, andLEO/BTC. - OKX: Offers spot and derivatives trading pairs for international retail and institutional traders.
- Gate.io & KuCoin: Feature active spot trading markets, margin facilities, and crypto lending options involving LEO.
2. Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs)
- Uniswap (V2 / V3): Allows users to swap Ethereum-native ERC-20 LEO directly using self-custody Web3 wallets like MetaMask, Trust Wallet, or Coinbase Wallet without requiring account registration.
How to Buy LEO Token (Step-by-Step Guide)
Method 1: Buying LEO on a Centralized Exchange (e.g., Bitfinex / OKX)
- Create an Account: Register on a supported exchange (such as Bitfinex or OKX) and complete the required Identity Verification (KYC) steps.
- Deposit Funds: Fund your exchange wallet using fiat currency (bank transfer, credit card) or transfer cryptocurrency (such as USDT, BTC, or ETH).
- Navigate to LEO Market: Go to the spot market section and select your desired trading pair (e.g.,
LEO/USDTorLEO/USD). - Place a Trade Order: Enter the amount of LEO you wish to buy and select your order type:
- Market Order: Purchases LEO instantly at the current prevailing market price.
- Limit Order: Sets a specific price target at which your buy order will execute.
- Secure Your Tokens: Once filled, your LEO tokens will appear in your exchange wallet, ready to provide platform fee discounts or to be transferred to private storage.
Method 2: Buying LEO on a Decentralized Exchange (e.g., Uniswap)
- Set Up a Web3 Wallet: Install a self-custody Web3 wallet such as MetaMask or Trust Wallet and fund it with Ethereum (ETH) to cover network gas fees.
- Connect to Uniswap: Go to the official Uniswap platform interface and connect your Web3 wallet.
- Select LEO Token: Import the official LEO ERC-20 token contract address into the token selection field.
- Execute Swap: Enter the amount of ETH or stablecoins (USDT/USDC) you wish to exchange for LEO, review the network gas fee and slippage settings, and confirm the transaction in your wallet.
LEO Token vs. Bitcoin and Ethereum
While Bitcoin functions as digital gold and Ethereum powers decentralized applications, UNUS SED LEO operates as an exchange utility asset linked to iFinex platform metrics.
| Feature | UNUS SED LEO | Bitcoin | Ethereum |
| Symbol | LEO | BTC | ETH |
| Launch Year | 2019 | 2009 | 2015 |
| Primary Function | Exchange Utility & Deflationary Buybacks | Store of Value / Digital Cash | Smart Contract & Application Layer |
| Token Type | Dual-Chain Utility Token (ERC-20 / EOS) | Native L1 Coin | Native L1 Asset |
| Supply Model | Deflationary (Continuous Buyback & Burn) | Capped Supply (21 Million Max) | Dynamic Supply (EIP-1559) |
| Maximum Supply | 1,000,000,000 LEO (Initial) | 21,000,000 BTC | Dynamic Supply |
LEO Supply & Tokenomics
UNUS SED LEO launched with an initial supply of 1,000,000,000 LEO. Because of the protocol’s burn policy, the overall token supply decreases over time.
| Supply Metric | LEO Token Statistic |
| Initial Maximum Supply | 1,000,000,000 LEO |
| Current Total Supply | ~920,000,000 LEO |
| Circulating Supply | ~920,000,000 LEO |
| Supply Dynamics | Deflationary |
| Burn Mechanism | Minimum 27% of gross iFinex monthly revenues |
LEO Token Historical Price Performance
LEO has historically demonstrated lower volatility compared to typical altcoins, driven by its exchange utility and ongoing open-market buybacks by iFinex.
LEO Historical Data by Year
| Year | Average Price | Highest Price | Lowest Price | Year-End Close |
| 2019 | $1.25 | $1.98 | $0.799 | $0.812 |
| 2020 | $1.15 | $1.44 | $0.850 | $1.35 |
| 2021 | $2.45 | $3.92 | $1.22 | $3.78 |
| 2022 | $4.85 | $8.04 | $3.38 | $3.52 |
| 2023 | $3.80 | $4.50 | $3.25 | $3.98 |
| 2024 | $5.60 | $8.50 | $3.80 | $7.85 |
| 2025 | $8.20 | $9.80 | $7.10 | $9.15 |
| 2026 (YTD) | $9.10 | $10.61 | $8.50 | $9.33 |
LEO Token All-Time High
CoinMarketCap records UNUS SED LEO’s all-time high at $10.61 on May 4, 2026. This price milestone reflected persistent buyback demand and broader exchange market consolidation.
LEO Token All-Time Low
CoinMarketCap records UNUS SED LEO’s all-time low at $0.799 on December 23, 2019, following market adjustments after its initial IEO launch period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is UNUS SED LEO used for?
LEO is an exchange utility token that gives Bitfinex users discounts on spot trading, margin funding, and deposit/withdrawal processing fees.
How does the LEO burn mechanism work?
iFinex uses at least 27% of its gross revenues to buy back LEO tokens from the open market and permanently burn them, continuously lowering the total circulating supply.
Is UNUS SED LEO an ERC-20 token?
Yes. LEO is issued as a dual-chain asset operating on both the Ethereum blockchain (as an ERC-20 token) and the EOS blockchain.
How do I store LEO tokens safely?
Because LEO exists on Ethereum and EOS, ERC-20 LEO can be stored in self-custody wallets such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet, or hardware cold storage like Ledger and Trezor.