Internet Computer
ICP Rank #57Price chart
What is Internet Computer?
Origins and applications
Dominic Williams founded the DFINITY Foundation in October 2016. It developed the Internet Computer, whose network genesis occurred on May 10, 2021. Applications run as canister smart contracts containing executable code and persistent state. The execution environment supports WebAssembly modules. Canisters can serve web content and exchange messages with other canisters.
Subnets and governance
Independent node providers supply the machines that operate the network. Subnets group nodes to replicate application state and execution. The Network Nervous System governs the protocol through a dedicated set of system canisters. ICP holders lock tokens into neurons to participate in voting. Proposals can change network configuration, authorize node providers or upgrade protocol software.
ICP and cycles
Burning ICP through the Cycles Minting Canister creates computational cycles. Cycle costs are anchored to the IMF's XDR currency basket. Applications consume those cycles for resources such as execution and storage. Node-provider compensation introduces new ICP under the network's reward rules. Voting rewards accumulate as neuron maturity and create ICP when converted, so issuance and computational burning jointly affect supply.
Where to trade ICP
68 exchanges · top 10
Live spot quotes from connected exchanges
ICP funding rates
Live perpetual funding on every connected exchange. Positive = longs pay shorts.
Contracts & chains
Exact contract or mint per network — the identity layer used for DEX routing.
On-chain routes
Networks with a connected DEX routing adapter.