BitTorrent Token (BTT) is a cryptocurrency tied to the BitTorrent ecosystem. It started as a way to reward people for sharing bandwidth in BitTorrent’s file-sharing apps. Today, it is also the native token of BitTorrent Chain (BTTC), where it pays gas fees and secures the network through staking.
This guide covers what BTT does in BitTorrent products, its role on BTTC, how the 2021 redenomination changed the token, and where the official bridge stands now.
Table of Contents
What Is BitTorrent Token (BTT)?
Three names in this ecosystem sound alike. BitTorrent is the peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing protocol, created in 2001, that lets people download a file in pieces from many other users at once. BitTorrent Token (BTT) is a cryptoasset linked to that ecosystem and issued on TRON as a TRC-20 token. BitTorrent Chain (BTTC) is a separate blockchain network that uses BTT as its native token.
Using BitTorrent doesn’t require BTT, and holding BTT doesn’t mean you own part of the BitTorrent protocol. The token is one layer on top of the file-sharing network, not the network itself.
Why Was BTT Created?
TRON, the blockchain founded by Justin Sun, acquired BitTorrent Inc. in 2018. BTT launched in early 2019 to add a crypto incentive to file sharing.
It addressed an old problem in torrenting. Many users download a file and then stop sharing it, so files with few active uploaders (“seeders”) become slow or hard to find. BTT gave uploaders a reason to keep seeding: other users could pay them in tokens for bandwidth.
That was the token’s original purpose. Since then, its role has grown to include BTTC and decentralized storage.
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How Does BTT Work in BitTorrent Products?
BitTorrent Speed: Paying Peers for Bandwidth
BitTorrent Speed is an add-on for BitTorrent’s desktop clients. Users who wanted faster downloads could offer tokens to peers, and peers who shared bandwidth could earn those tokens. Downloaders got priority access to fast uploaders, and uploaders got paid for staying online.
Two points are easy to get wrong here. First, ordinary torrent downloads have never required payment; BitTorrent Speed was optional. Second, BitTorrent Speed was built around the original token, now called BTTOLD. Not every flow from those early versions works the same way today, so check the current app before assuming how payments work.
BitTorrent File System (BTFS): Paying for Storage
The BitTorrent File System (BTFS) is a decentralized storage system in the same ecosystem. Hosts rent out spare disk space and receive tokens for storing other people’s files. Renters pay to upload their files to the network, and according to BTTC’s token white paper, they pay with wrapped BTT (WBTT). Wrapped tokens are versions of a coin issued in another token format so they can work in smart contracts, and WBTT represents BTT one-to-one.
What Does BTT Do on BitTorrent Chain?
BTTC launched in December 2021. It’s an EVM-compatible blockchain, which means it can run smart contracts written for the Ethereum Virtual Machine. On BTTC, BTT has three jobs.
Paying Transaction Fees
Every transaction on BTTC costs a gas fee paid in BTT. That includes token transfers, smart contract calls, and other on-chain actions.
Staking, Validators, and Delegators
BTTC uses a Proof-of-Stake design. Validators stake BTT to help run the network: they verify transactions and help produce blocks. BTT holders who don’t run a validator can delegate their tokens to one, which is a common form of crypto staking.
Validators and delegators can earn rewards for helping secure the network. Rewards depend on the network’s rules and conditions at the time and aren’t guaranteed. Staked tokens may also be locked for a period, and BTT’s value can fall.
Governance
Validators also vote on proposals that affect the network, such as protocol changes. Voting power comes from staked BTT, putting it in the same category as other governance tokens.
What Changed From BTTOLD to Today’s BTT?
In an old wallet, exchange listing, or white paper, “BTT” may refer to a different token than the one trading today.
The 2021 Redenomination and Token Supply
With the BTTC launch in December 2021, the original token was renamed BTTOLD. A new token took the BTT name, and holders could convert at a 1 BTTOLD to 1,000 BTT ratio.
This was a change in denomination, not in value. If you held 1 BTTOLD, you received 1,000 new BTT, but the total value of your holdings stayed the same at the moment of conversion. It works like cutting a pizza into 1,000 slices: you get more pieces, not more pizza.
The redenomination also changed the stated total supply, from 990 billion BTTOLD to 990 trillion BTT. Treat 990 trillion as the total supply of today’s token. The 990 billion figure belongs to the old one. Total supply differs from circulating supply, which counts only tokens available on the market and changes over time.
TRC-10, TRC-20, and BTTC
The two tokens also use different technical standards:
| BTTOLD | BTT (current) | |
| Status | Legacy token | Current token |
| Standard on TRON | TRC-10 | TRC-20 |
| Used natively on BTTC | No | Yes |
| Supply | 990 billion | 990 trillion |
TRC-10 is TRON’s simpler, built-in token format. TRC-20 is TRON’s smart contract token standard, similar to Ethereum‘s ERC-20. Current BTT was issued as a TRC-20 token on TRON and is also used natively on BTTC. When you send, receive, or list BTT, make sure the token and network match what the wallet or exchange expects.
Can BTT Still Be Bridged Between Networks?
BTTC was designed with a cross-chain architecture. Its root contracts on chains such as TRON and Ethereum let users map tokens onto BTTC, and the official BTTC Bridge was the main cross-chain bridge for moving assets that way.
That bridge service has been discontinued. In June 2026, the BitTorrent team began a phased shutdown of the BTTC Bridge: deposits closed on June 13, and withdrawals were due to end by June 18. Users were told to move bridged tokens back to their original chains before the deadline. Don’t follow older guides that tell you to use the official bridge.
The shutdown applied to the bridge, not to BTTC itself. The announcement said block production, staking, delegation, and validator rewards on BTTC would continue. In July 2026, TRON founder Justin Sun also said users could still deposit and withdraw bridged assets through partner centralized exchanges, according to AMBCrypto. If you need to move BTT between networks, check which routes your exchange or wallet supports right now.
Final Words
BTT began as a reward for sharing bandwidth through BitTorrent Speed. Today it also pays gas on BitTorrent Chain, backs staking and governance there, and connects to decentralized storage through BTFS. The 2021 redenomination is the main source of confusion around the token: today’s BTT is not the same as BTTOLD, and 1 BTTOLD equals 1,000 BTT. Before you buy, send, or stake BTT, confirm which token and network you’re dealing with.
Want to add BTT to your wallet? Buy BTT on Changelly and have it sent to the address you choose.
Disclaimer: Please note that the contents of this article are not financial or investing advice. The information provided in this article is the author’s opinion only and should not be considered as offering trading or investing recommendations. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. The cryptocurrency market suffers from high volatility and occasional arbitrary movements. Any investor, trader, or regular crypto users should research multiple viewpoints and be familiar with all local regulations before committing to an investment.
