What is CTXC Coin?

What Is Cortex?

Cortex is a public blockchain project designed to support both smart contracts and AI inference. Its native token, CTXC, is used to pay on-chain transaction fees (commonly known as gas fees) and to reward miners who maintain network security. Cortex aims to enable AI models to run on-chain in a verifiable manner, allowing developers to deploy both contracts and models, while users can invoke results through transactions.

Current Price, Market Cap, and Circulating Supply of Cortex (CTXC)

As of 2026-01-21 06:03 (UTC), based on the latest available data:

• Latest Price: $0.006624
• Circulating Supply: 235,543,388.78125003 CTXC; Total and Maximum Supply: 299,792,458 CTXC (capped)
• Circulating Market Cap: $1,560,349.13; Fully Diluted Market Cap: $1,985,964.89. Circulating market cap is an estimate based on “current price × circulating supply”, while fully diluted market cap uses “current price × max supply”.
• Market Cap Dominance: 0.0001%
• Price Change: 1 hour -0.8303%, 24 hours -31.0524%, 7 days -57.7426%, 30 days -43.7480%
• 24-hour Trading Volume: $73,546.78; Number of Trading Pairs: 59; Status: Active

Market data is subject to change and the above reflects information as of the stated time.

Who Created Cortex (CTXC) and When?

Cortex was initiated by its core team around 2017 with the goal of bringing verifiable AI inference to blockchain networks. The mainnet launched in subsequent years to support smart contract and AI model inference capabilities. Sources include the project website and public records (cortexlabs.ai), with the timeline as of January 2026. Details on team members and funding should be verified through official project disclosures.

How Does Cortex (CTXC) Work?

Cortex uses a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism where miners compete by providing computational power to produce blocks and receive CTXC rewards. This process ensures network security and transaction finality. PoW selects block producers via solving computational puzzles, incurring costs in electricity and hardware.

At the execution layer, Cortex supports smart contracts—programs deployed on-chain that can automatically execute predefined logic. The project emphasizes “on-chain inference,” meaning AI model computations are performed directly on-chain. Inputs, model versions, and output processes are recorded on-chain for every inference, allowing all nodes to independently reproduce and verify results for consistency.

Key uses of CTXC within the network include:

• Gas Fees: Used to pay for contract calls, inference operations, and transfers, discouraging spam transactions and rewarding miners.
• Block Rewards & Potential Ecosystem Incentives: Incentivize miners and developers to maintain security and foster ecosystem growth.

View CTXC Token Flow Breakdown

What Are the Main Use Cases for Cortex (CTXC)?

Cortex’s use cases center around “verifiable AI” and contract applications:

• Risk Control & Scoring: For example, lending contracts can invoke on-chain AI models to score addresses, determining collateral or interest parameters.
• Content & NFTs: Generation or classification models process images or text, with results embedded into NFT metadata for provenance and version verification within contracts.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Edge devices upload data on-chain; lightweight inference is performed by on-chain models, triggering contract executions such as maintenance or alerts.
• Data Marketplace: Model versions and invocation billing are handled via contracts; developers set call prices, and users pay per use with CTXC.

These scenarios are typical examples; specific capabilities depend on mainnet implementation and the developer toolchain.

What Are the Main Risks and Regulatory Considerations for Cortex (CTXC)?

• Price Volatility: Crypto asset prices are highly sensitive to liquidity and market sentiment, resulting in significant short-term fluctuations.
• Liquidity Risk: Insufficient trading volume or order book depth can lead to increased slippage or difficulty executing trades.

View CTXC Fear & Greed Index

• Technical & Model Verifiability: On-chain inference requires strict reproducibility across nodes; model version management and numerical consistency are challenging—improper implementation affects usability.
• Network & Consensus Security: PoW relies on sufficient hash power distribution and economic incentives; hash rate centralization could introduce attack risks.
• Smart Contract Risk: Contract vulnerabilities, logic errors, or external dependency failures could lead to asset losses.
• Regulatory Compliance: Jurisdictions vary in their regulation of mining, token trading, and AI-related applications; always monitor local compliance requirements.
• Custody & Key Management: Both exchanges and wallets carry risk of hacks or operational mistakes; lost private keys are typically unrecoverable.

What Is the Long-Term Value Proposition for Cortex (CTXC)?

• Demand Side: If “verifiable AI” becomes essential in DeFi, NFTs, or IoT, demand for on-chain inference calls and contract activity will drive usage of CTXC for gas fees and incentives.
• Supply Side: CTXC has a fixed maximum supply of 299,792,458 tokens, which aids in supply predictability but does not guarantee price support; network utilization and security cost balance remain key.
• Competition & Differentiation: Many public chains and middleware solutions focus on AI; Cortex differentiates itself by enabling verifiable on-chain inference. Its success will depend on developer adoption, tooling ease-of-use, and performance.
• Ecosystem Growth: Attracting quality model providers and flagship applications could create positive feedback loops for network value; failure to do so could result in marginalization.

How Can I Buy and Safely Store Cortex (CTXC) on Gate?

Step 1: Register & Verify Identity. Visit the official Gate website to create an account. Complete email or phone verification and fulfill KYC requirements to increase deposit and withdrawal limits.

Step 2: Enable Security Settings. Activate two-factor authentication (2FA), set a fund password, and enable withdrawal whitelists to reduce account takeover risks.

Step 3: Deposit Funds. Purchase USDT using fiat currency or transfer USDT/USDC from your personal wallet into your Gate account. Always double-check chain names and addresses before depositing.

Step 4: Search for Trading Pairs. In the spot market section, enter “CTXC” and select a trading pair such as CTXC/USDT. Review order book depth and recent trades.

Step 5: Place Orders. Beginners can use market orders for instant execution; use limit orders if you have a target price in mind. Confirm quantity, price, and fees before submitting—after execution, check your holdings under “Assets”.

Step 6: Withdraw to Self-Custody (Optional). For long-term holding, prepare a self-custody wallet supporting Cortex mainnet. Copy the correct on-chain address, test withdrawal with a small amount first, then transfer as needed. Self-custody means you manage your own private key or seed phrase.

Step 7: Secure Storage. Carefully write down your seed phrase/private key and store it offline; consider using a cold storage wallet. Use strong passwords with 2FA for exchange accounts and regularly review withdrawal whitelists.

Risk Note: On-chain withdrawals incur network fees; always verify chain name and address as mistaken transfers are generally irretrievable.

How Is Cortex (CTXC) Different from Ethereum (ETH)?

• Positioning & Goals: Cortex focuses on verifiable on-chain AI inference with smart contract support; Ethereum is a general-purpose smart contract platform powering a broad ecosystem spanning finance, social media, gaming, and more.
• Consensus Mechanism: Cortex uses Proof of Work (PoW) for security via hash power; Ethereum has transitioned to Proof of Stake (PoS), where staked ETH participates in consensus with lower energy consumption and more stable block production.
• Ecosystem Scale: Ethereum boasts a mature developer base, robust toolchain, and deep liquidity; Cortex’s ecosystem is earlier-stage and more reliant on AI-centric application development.
• Token Supply: CTXC has a fixed supply cap of 299,792,458; ETH does not have a fixed cap—its supply is dynamically adjusted via burning mechanisms tied to network activity.
• Applications & Fees: Both networks charge gas fees; running inference contracts on Cortex will have costs and performance determined by implementation details and network load. Ethereum fees are influenced by congestion and layer 2 scaling solutions.

Each chain has distinct strengths—choosing where to build or participate depends on your specific business needs and ecosystem resources.

Summary of Cortex (CTXC)

Cortex (CTXC) is a smart contract public blockchain focused on verifiable AI inference. Its native token is used for transaction fees and miner incentives, with a capped supply of 299,792,458 tokens. Currently, it has relatively low market cap and trading volume with significant price volatility. Future prospects depend on real-world adoption, developer engagement, and robust network security. For regular users, attention should be paid to trading depth, fees, account safety, and private key management; developers or researchers should assess its model verifiability, toolchain maturity, and performance. Always make investment decisions based on your risk tolerance and local regulatory requirements.

FAQ

How Is CTXC Different from Regular Tokens?

CTXC is the native token of the Cortex project—primarily used to incentivize network validators and pay for smart contract execution. Unlike generic tokens, CTXC powers Cortex’s core features: decentralized AI inference and storage services with practical utility beyond speculation. CTXC holders can participate in network governance and mining rewards.

How Much CTXC Do I Need to Get Started in the Cortex Ecosystem?

There is no strict minimum CTXC requirement to engage with Cortex. To try DApps you only need a small amount for gas fees; becoming a validator/miner generally requires more tokens for staking purposes. Beginners are encouraged to purchase a modest amount of CTXC (e.g., 100–1000 tokens) on exchanges like Gate for initial experience before increasing their holdings based on actual needs.

How Does CTXC Mining Differ from Other Coins?

CTXC uses a hybrid PoW + PoS mechanism—supporting both GPU/CPU mining rewards as well as consensus participation through staking by token holders. This allows you to earn via computational power (traditional mining) or by staking your tokens (staking), offering greater flexibility compared to pure PoW coins. The hybrid design is more energy-efficient and inclusive.

What Are the Security Risks of Holding CTXC?

As a smart contract platform token, CTXC’s main risks include: DApp attacks due to smart contract vulnerabilities; relatively low liquidity leading to price swings; uncertainty in application ecosystem development. It is recommended to store long-term holdings in hardware/cold wallets, avoid frequent transactions on smaller exchanges, monitor official security updates regularly, and be alert for phishing sites.

Why Do Some Consider CTXC an Undervalued AI Token?

Supporters argue that Cortex was among the first to integrate AI inference directly onto blockchain—filling a gap in decentralized AI compute infrastructure with forward-looking potential. As AI adoption grows, demand for on-chain inference could rise—and CTXC may benefit as its payment/incentive token. However, this perspective is investment-oriented; actual value will depend on ecosystem adoption and technical progress—beginners should assess carefully rather than follow hype blindly.

Glossary of Cortex (CTXC) Terms

• Smart Contract: Self-executing code deployed on blockchain that enables transactions or agreements without intermediaries.
• Artificial Intelligence Model: AI models executable on the Cortex chain for decentralized machine learning or inference computation.
• Gas Fee: Network fees required for executing smart contracts or transactions—denominated in CTXC.
• Virtual Machine: The runtime environment for executing smart contracts or AI models securely across distributed networks.
• Consensus Mechanism: The protocol by which network nodes reach agreement—ensuring blockchain security and integrity.
• Tokenomics: The design of CTXC’s supply, distribution, and incentive mechanisms—which drive ecosystem growth and value flow.

Further Reading & References for Cortex (CTXC)

• Official Site / Whitepaper:

  • https://www.cortexlabs.ai/
  • https://github.com/CortexFoundation/whitepaper

• Developer Resources / Documentation:

  • https://github.com/CortexFoundation
  • https://docs.cortexlabs.ai/

• Reputable Media / Research:

  • https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/cortex/
  • https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/cortex