Dec, 17 2025
When you hear "Omni (OMNI)" in crypto, you might think it’s one project. It’s not. There are two completely separate blockchain projects using the same token symbol - and mixing them up could cost you money. One is a 2013 Bitcoin experiment. The other is a 2024 Ethereum upgrade trying to fix a major problem. They have nothing in common except the name.
Omni Layer: The Bitcoin pioneer that’s running on fumes
Omni Layer, originally called Mastercoin, launched in July 2013. It was one of the first attempts to add smart contracts and token creation to Bitcoin. Back then, Ethereum didn’t exist. Developers wanted to issue digital assets without leaving Bitcoin’s secure network. So they used the OP_RETURN field - a tiny space in Bitcoin transactions meant for notes - to store metadata about tokens.
It worked. People issued tokens for everything from loyalty points to early ICOs. The total supply of OMNI tokens on Omni Layer is fixed at 2 million. About 1.5 million were distributed during its 2013 crowdfunding, where investors sent 5,000 BTC to a single address. That’s still one of the largest early crypto fundraisers ever.
But here’s the problem: Bitcoin wasn’t built for this. Transactions take 10 minutes to confirm. Fees spike when the network gets busy. In 2015, someone paid $150 in Bitcoin fees to issue 10,000 tokens. Today, Omni Layer barely moves. Daily trading volume is under $10,000. There are only 881 token types still listed on Omni Explorer. GitHub shows just two commits in Q2 2024. The community is tiny - around 3,500 active members across forums. Most users now treat it like a digital museum piece.
Experts call it "technologically obsolete." The SEC even flagged its original ICO as potentially a security under its 2023 investment contract framework. It’s not dead, but it’s not growing either. If you’re holding OMNI from Omni Layer, you’re holding a relic.
Omni Network: The new kid trying to glue Ethereum together
Fast forward to 2024. Ethereum has exploded into hundreds of rollups - sidechains optimized for speed and low fees. But they’re isolated. Sending a token from Arbitrum to zkSync? It’s messy. That’s where Omni Network comes in.
This is a Layer 1 blockchain built specifically to connect Ethereum rollups. It uses something called XMsg - a standardized message format - to let smart contracts on different rollups talk to each other. Think of it as a universal translator for Ethereum’s fragmented ecosystem. It’s not just another bridge. It’s designed to be secure, scalable, and deeply integrated.
Its biggest innovation? Dual staking. Users can stake OMNI tokens (the new ones, not the old ones) or restake ETH through EigenLayer. That means Omni Network inherits Ethereum’s security, but scales it. More OMNI staked = more security budget. It’s a clever way to solve the chicken-and-egg problem new protocols face: how to get trust without a big user base.
The token? 100 million max supply. 10.4 million were circulating at launch in May 2024. Within weeks, trading volume hit $150 million a day. Market cap peaked near $450 million. It’s now ranked #147 on CoinGecko. Major DeFi apps like Aave and Uniswap are integrating. 27 rollups are already connected. The team behind it includes engineers from top crypto firms, and they’re moving fast.
Side-by-side: Omni Layer vs. Omni Network
| Feature | Omni Layer | Omni Network |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2013 | 2024 |
| Base Chain | Bitcoin | Independent (Ethereum-compatible) |
| Token Supply | 2,000,000 OMNI | 100,000,000 OMNI |
| Current Circulating Supply | ~2,000,000 | ~10,391,492 |
| Transaction Speed | 10-minute blocks (Bitcoin speed) | Up to 10,000 TPS across rollups |
| Primary Use Case | Tokenizing assets on Bitcoin | Connecting Ethereum rollups |
| Security Model | Bitcoin’s PoW | Restaked ETH + staked OMNI |
| Developer Activity | Minimal (2 commits in Q2 2024) | High (12,000+ GitHub stars) |
| Market Cap (Oct 2024) | $1.2 million | $450 million |
| Future Roadmap | No major updates planned | "Apex" upgrade in Q1 2025: sharding, enhanced composability |
Who’s using these projects today?
On Reddit, users from r/Bitcoin still talk about Omni Layer - mostly in nostalgia threads. One user wrote: "We used it in 2015. It was slow, expensive, but it worked when nothing else did." There’s no active development. No new wallets. No new tokens being issued at scale.
Meanwhile, r/ethfinance is buzzing about Omni Network. A developer shared: "We cut our cross-rollup integration time from weeks to days using XMsg. The docs are rough, but the tech is real." Early surveys show 78% of users rate cross-rollup reliability as excellent. But 63% admit it’s hard to learn if you’re not deep into Ethereum.
Support is worlds apart. Omni Layer’s forums have response times over 72 hours. Omni Network offers 24-hour priority support on Discord. Their developer portal is updated monthly. They’ve got 45,000 Discord members. That’s not a community - it’s a movement.
What should you do if you see OMNI on an exchange?
Check the chain. If it’s on Bitcoin, it’s Omni Layer. If it’s on Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, or another EVM chain - it’s Omni Network. They’re not interchangeable. You can’t send Omni Layer OMNI to an Omni Network wallet. It’ll vanish.
Buying OMNI on Binance? It’s Omni Network. If you’re using a Bitcoin wallet like Electrum and see OMNI - that’s the old one. Most exchanges have dropped Omni Layer entirely because it’s irrelevant. If you’re holding it, don’t panic. But don’t expect it to grow.
Omni Network is the future. It’s competing with LayerZero, Hyperlane, and Chainlink CCIP. But its dual staking model and deep Ethereum integration give it a real shot. Vitalik Buterin even mentioned it as potentially useful for solving Ethereum’s fragmentation. That’s rare praise.
Is Omni Network safe?
No system is risk-free. Omni Network’s complexity introduces new attack surfaces. Ethereum core developer Danny Ryan warned that adding more cross-chain layers could create new vulnerabilities. But its security model is smart. By tying OMNI staking to EigenLayer, it doesn’t just rely on its own validators - it piggybacks on billions of dollars in restaked ETH.
Regulators see it differently too. Omni Layer’s ICO structure could be classified as a security. Omni Network’s token is used for gas and staking - a utility model that’s much harder to challenge legally.
What’s next?
Omni Layer? It’s done. The last GitHub commit was in June 2024. It’s a footnote in crypto history.
Omni Network? The "Apex" upgrade is coming in Q1 2025. It’ll add sharding and better cross-chain composability. If it works, it could become the standard for Ethereum interoperability. Messari predicts 20-30% annual growth for projects like this. Delphi Digital gives it a 65% chance of becoming a core part of Ethereum’s infrastructure.
So when someone asks you "What is Omni (OMNI)?" - don’t answer with one sentence. Say this: "There are two. One’s a relic. The other might change how Ethereum works."
Is Omni (OMNI) a good investment?
It depends on which Omni you mean. The original Omni Layer token (OMNI) is not a viable investment - it has no growth, low liquidity, and minimal developer activity. The newer Omni Network token (also OMNI) is a high-risk, high-reward play. It’s tied to Ethereum’s future and has real adoption, but it’s still young. Only invest what you can afford to lose, and make sure you’re buying the right one.
Can I send Omni Layer OMNI to an Omni Network wallet?
No. They exist on completely different blockchains. Omni Layer runs on Bitcoin. Omni Network runs on its own EVM-compatible chain. Sending one to the other will result in permanent loss of funds. Always check the token’s blockchain before sending.
Why do both projects use the same symbol OMNI?
It’s a coincidence. Omni Layer was the first to use the symbol in 2013. When Omni Network launched in 2024, they chose the same abbreviation because it’s short and memorable. There’s no official connection. The crypto world is full of symbol collisions - this is one of the most confusing ones.
Where can I buy Omni Network (OMNI)?
Omni Network’s OMNI token is listed on major exchanges like Binance, KuCoin, and OKX. Always verify you’re buying the token on an EVM chain (like Ethereum or Polygon), not Bitcoin. Avoid small exchanges - they might list the old Omni Layer token by mistake.
Is Omni Network compatible with MetaMask?
Yes. Omni Network is EVM-compatible, so you can add it to MetaMask using its RPC details. The official Omni Network website provides the correct network settings. Once added, you can send and receive OMNI tokens, interact with dApps, and stake directly from your wallet.
What’s the difference between Omni Network and LayerZero?
Both connect blockchains, but Omni Network is built as a Layer 1 specifically for Ethereum rollups. It uses a standardized XMsg protocol and dual staking (OMNI + restaked ETH) for security. LayerZero is a general-purpose messaging protocol that works across many chains, including non-EVM ones. Omni Network is more focused, more integrated with Ethereum’s ecosystem, and has stronger economic incentives built in.
Final takeaway
Don’t let the same symbol fool you. Omni Layer is a historical artifact. Omni Network is a serious contender in the race to unify Ethereum. If you’re exploring crypto in 2025, your focus should be on the latter. The old one? Keep it as a curiosity. The new one? Watch it closely - it might be part of how we use Ethereum for the next decade.
Sammy Tam
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