Crypto 101 is an educational series designed to make complex blockchain and decentralized infrastructure concepts accessible to everyone. Each edition explores a specific topic in depth, combining foundational knowledge with practical implementation examples from the Nodle ecosystem.

If you have ever wondered whether NODL is a coin or a token, you are not alone. Many people download the Nodle or Click app, see NODL in their wallet, and assume it works like any other cryptocurrency without realizing there is a broader design behind it. In reality, understanding the difference between coins and tokens is the key to understanding why NODL can power gas fees, governance, staking rewards, and even app experiences like Click Missions and contests.

Imagine a city: the "coin" is like the city's base currency, while "tokens" are like subway passes, concert tickets, or loyalty points that live on top of that money system. In Nodle's case, NODL is the native token of the Nodle Network, which now runs fully on zkSync, leveraging Ethereum's security and tooling while unifying all NODL activity on a single Layer 2. This makes it more than just a balance in your app—it is a programmable building block for a whole range of real-world and on‑chain use cases.

A coin usually refers to a native asset of its own blockchain, like BTC on Bitcoin or ETH on Ethereum. It is tightly coupled with the protocol: it pays base transaction fees, often secures the network via staking or mining, and is built directly into the chain's rules. By contrast, a token generally runs on top of an existing blockchain as a smart contract asset—think ERC‑20 tokens on Ethereum—which inherit the base chain's security and infrastructure instead of providing it.

Conceptually, you can picture coins as the "fuel plus rails" of a train system, while tokens are the different kinds of trains and carriages that run on those rails. Coins are usually needed to pay the underlying network and validators, whereas tokens focus on specific use cases: governance rights, in‑app currencies, loyalty points, game assets, or staking instruments. This is why ecosystems like Ethereum or zkSync can host thousands of tokens but still use one or a few base coins to anchor security and fees.

The key takeaway is that coins are responsible for keeping the blockchain secure and operational, while tokens unlock specialized experiences and utilities built on top of that foundation.

NODL is the native token of the Nodle Network, designed from the outset as a utility and governance token rather than a purely speculative asset. It is minted and distributed to network participants—mobile nodes and app users—based on the utility they provide, such as device connectivity, data relaying, and participation in Nodle and Click Missions.

On the utility side, NODL is meant to do several jobs at once. It represents the value created by edge nodes and mission participants through connectivity, data, and authenticated proofs. NODL pays for services built on top of the network, such as asset tracking, digital witnessing, and geolocation NFTs. It also serves as the economic foundation for Smart Missions and bounties, where entities attach NODL rewards to specific on‑chain or real‑world tasks.

On the governance side, the design foresees NODL holders voting on important changes to the Nodle Network—system-wide upgrades, protocol parameters, or new features—using on‑chain mechanisms as the governance framework matures. This turns NODL into a way to steer the evolution of the Digital Trust Network, not just consume it. A simple analogy is a cooperative where your membership card is also your voting card; here, NODL plays that dual role for Nodle.

On zkSync, transactions typically require ETH for gas, even if you are using an ERC‑20 token. Nodle changes that experience by integrating Zyfi's "paymaster‑as‑a‑service" so that Nodle users can pay transaction fees directly in NODL instead of needing Layer 2 ETH. Zyfi estimates the gas required, converts it to an equivalent NODL amount, and routes it through a paymaster smart contract; to you, it simply feels like your NODL balance is covering everything.

For everyday users of the Nodle app or Click, this removes a classic Web3 hurdle: juggling multiple assets just to send one transaction. Now, the same NODL you earn or hold in‑app can be used to claim rewards or missions on zkSync and interact with the Nodle Portal and more advanced Click features like ClickAI, while gas remains tiny and payable in NODL. This mirrors the experience of using a single card in your physical wallet to pay for transit, coffee, and a concert ticket, instead of carrying different currencies for each stop.

NODL also serves as a key to the broader Nodle and Click ecosystem. It underpins Click Missions, where users capture photos or complete tasks that feed into Nodle's Digital Trust Network—connecting Web3 incentives to real‑world actions. NODL acts as both the reward for participating and the unit in which those missions and services are economically measured.

For experiences like the "Click with Us" or seasonal Click contests, NODL functions as the ecosystem's participation currency: users engage with authenticated photos, missions, and campaigns and, over time, NODL can gate premium features, boost visibility, or unlock access to specific mission types or fellowships. With the recent introduction of the Click AI Agent, photographers can now submit their photos to an on-chain AI mentor that provides feedback on composition and quality, and enter daily contests with a 500 NODL entry fee for a chance to win token rewards based on AI-driven scoring. This is closer to an in‑game currency that unlocks new levels and tools than a simple investment token.

The NODL economic design includes staking as an extra benefit for users who have conviction in Nodle and are willing to lock up otherwise idle NODL in return for additional yield. The staking pool explicitly targets holders who want their tokens to work harder without actively trading, letting them earn up to 12% APR on NODL that would simply sit in their wallet.

This deepens alignment with the network by rewarding long‑term holders and encouraging them to keep skin in the game, sharing in the upside as Nodle's usage, smart missions, and ecosystem services grow. Importantly, staking does not secure the Nodle Network itself—the security comes from the underlying zkSync infrastructure and Ethereum. Rather, staking is a utility and incentives feature on top of that base, rewarding conviction and long‑term participation.

Nodle is building a smartphone‑powered DePIN and Digital Trust Network: billions of phones and devices act as edge nodes, capturing signals, data, and authenticated media, then anchoring all of this on‑chain. For that to work at scale, you need a token that is flexible enough to reward participation, pay gas, coordinate governance, and plug into everyday app flows. That is what NODL is optimized for, as detailed in the Nodle Whitepaper.

Because NODL can represent the value of edge‑node contributions, serve as payment for network services and missions, act as gas on zkSync via Zyfi's paymasters, and power governance and staking‑based rewards, it becomes a versatile primitive that fits many different user journeys. A creator using Click to certify their photos, a city tracking assets, and a developer building on Nodle's APIs can all rely on the same NODL unit to pay, earn, and influence the network. In other words, rather than being just a "coin in your wallet," NODL is the multi‑tool that ties the entire Nodle and Click ecosystem together.

If you strip away the jargon, the coin‑versus‑token distinction is mostly about what a digital asset is responsible for. Coins keep the rails running; tokens unlock specific experiences on top of those rails. NODL bridges both worlds by acting as the native token of the Nodle Network and as a versatile tool across zkSync, Zyfi‑powered gas payments, Click Missions, governance, and staking.

The next time you open your Nodle or Click app and see NODL, think of it less as a line on a price chart and more as a pass that lets you capture value from your phone's presence in the physical world, pay for on‑chain interactions with the same balance, earn yield by staking idle tokens, and gradually help steer how this Digital Trust Network evolves. As the ecosystem grows, that versatility is what will allow NODL to keep adapting to new use cases—whether that is new mission types, new integrations, or new real‑world applications—without forcing users to learn a new asset every time.

Ready to dive deeper into Web3? Keep an eye out for future and past editions of Crypto 101 covering DeFi, NFTs, DAOs and more. Until then, happy Clicking and keep those NODL coming.​

Crypto 101 is an educational series designed to make complex blockchain and decentralized infrastructure concepts accessible to everyone. Each edition explores a specific topic in depth, combining foundational knowledge with practical implementation examples from the Nodle ecosystem.

If you have ever wondered whether NODL is a coin or a token, you are not alone. Many people download the Nodle or Click app, see NODL in their wallet, and assume it works like any other cryptocurrency without realizing there is a broader design behind it. In reality, understanding the difference between coins and tokens is the key to understanding why NODL can power gas fees, governance, staking rewards, and even app experiences like Click Missions and contests.

Imagine a city: the "coin" is like the city's base currency, while "tokens" are like subway passes, concert tickets, or loyalty points that live on top of that money system. In Nodle's case, NODL is the native token of the Nodle Network, which now runs fully on zkSync, leveraging Ethereum's security and tooling while unifying all NODL activity on a single Layer 2. This makes it more than just a balance in your app—it is a programmable building block for a whole range of real-world and on‑chain use cases.

A coin usually refers to a native asset of its own blockchain, like BTC on Bitcoin or ETH on Ethereum. It is tightly coupled with the protocol: it pays base transaction fees, often secures the network via staking or mining, and is built directly into the chain's rules. By contrast, a token generally runs on top of an existing blockchain as a smart contract asset—think ERC‑20 tokens on Ethereum—which inherit the base chain's security and infrastructure instead of providing it.

Conceptually, you can picture coins as the "fuel plus rails" of a train system, while tokens are the different kinds of trains and carriages that run on those rails. Coins are usually needed to pay the underlying network and validators, whereas tokens focus on specific use cases: governance rights, in‑app currencies, loyalty points, game assets, or staking instruments. This is why ecosystems like Ethereum or zkSync can host thousands of tokens but still use one or a few base coins to anchor security and fees.

The key takeaway is that coins are responsible for keeping the blockchain secure and operational, while tokens unlock specialized experiences and utilities built on top of that foundation.

NODL is the native token of the Nodle Network, designed from the outset as a utility and governance token rather than a purely speculative asset. It is minted and distributed to network participants—mobile nodes and app users—based on the utility they provide, such as device connectivity, data relaying, and participation in Nodle and Click Missions.

On the utility side, NODL is meant to do several jobs at once. It represents the value created by edge nodes and mission participants through connectivity, data, and authenticated proofs. NODL pays for services built on top of the network, such as asset tracking, digital witnessing, and geolocation NFTs. It also serves as the economic foundation for Smart Missions and bounties, where entities attach NODL rewards to specific on‑chain or real‑world tasks.

On the governance side, the design foresees NODL holders voting on important changes to the Nodle Network—system-wide upgrades, protocol parameters, or new features—using on‑chain mechanisms as the governance framework matures. This turns NODL into a way to steer the evolution of the Digital Trust Network, not just consume it. A simple analogy is a cooperative where your membership card is also your voting card; here, NODL plays that dual role for Nodle.

On zkSync, transactions typically require ETH for gas, even if you are using an ERC‑20 token. Nodle changes that experience by integrating Zyfi's "paymaster‑as‑a‑service" so that Nodle users can pay transaction fees directly in NODL instead of needing Layer 2 ETH. Zyfi estimates the gas required, converts it to an equivalent NODL amount, and routes it through a paymaster smart contract; to you, it simply feels like your NODL balance is covering everything.

For everyday users of the Nodle app or Click, this removes a classic Web3 hurdle: juggling multiple assets just to send one transaction. Now, the same NODL you earn or hold in‑app can be used to claim rewards or missions on zkSync and interact with the Nodle Portal and more advanced Click features like ClickAI, while gas remains tiny and payable in NODL. This mirrors the experience of using a single card in your physical wallet to pay for transit, coffee, and a concert ticket, instead of carrying different currencies for each stop.

NODL also serves as a key to the broader Nodle and Click ecosystem. It underpins Click Missions, where users capture photos or complete tasks that feed into Nodle's Digital Trust Network—connecting Web3 incentives to real‑world actions. NODL acts as both the reward for participating and the unit in which those missions and services are economically measured.

For experiences like the "Click with Us" or seasonal Click contests, NODL functions as the ecosystem's participation currency: users engage with authenticated photos, missions, and campaigns and, over time, NODL can gate premium features, boost visibility, or unlock access to specific mission types or fellowships. With the recent introduction of the Click AI Agent, photographers can now submit their photos to an on-chain AI mentor that provides feedback on composition and quality, and enter daily contests with a 500 NODL entry fee for a chance to win token rewards based on AI-driven scoring. This is closer to an in‑game currency that unlocks new levels and tools than a simple investment token.

The NODL economic design includes staking as an extra benefit for users who have conviction in Nodle and are willing to lock up otherwise idle NODL in return for additional yield. The staking pool explicitly targets holders who want their tokens to work harder without actively trading, letting them earn up to 12% APR on NODL that would simply sit in their wallet.

This deepens alignment with the network by rewarding long‑term holders and encouraging them to keep skin in the game, sharing in the upside as Nodle's usage, smart missions, and ecosystem services grow. Importantly, staking does not secure the Nodle Network itself—the security comes from the underlying zkSync infrastructure and Ethereum. Rather, staking is a utility and incentives feature on top of that base, rewarding conviction and long‑term participation.

Nodle is building a smartphone‑powered DePIN and Digital Trust Network: billions of phones and devices act as edge nodes, capturing signals, data, and authenticated media, then anchoring all of this on‑chain. For that to work at scale, you need a token that is flexible enough to reward participation, pay gas, coordinate governance, and plug into everyday app flows. That is what NODL is optimized for, as detailed in the Nodle Whitepaper.

Because NODL can represent the value of edge‑node contributions, serve as payment for network services and missions, act as gas on zkSync via Zyfi's paymasters, and power governance and staking‑based rewards, it becomes a versatile primitive that fits many different user journeys. A creator using Click to certify their photos, a city tracking assets, and a developer building on Nodle's APIs can all rely on the same NODL unit to pay, earn, and influence the network. In other words, rather than being just a "coin in your wallet," NODL is the multi‑tool that ties the entire Nodle and Click ecosystem together.

If you strip away the jargon, the coin‑versus‑token distinction is mostly about what a digital asset is responsible for. Coins keep the rails running; tokens unlock specific experiences on top of those rails. NODL bridges both worlds by acting as the native token of the Nodle Network and as a versatile tool across zkSync, Zyfi‑powered gas payments, Click Missions, governance, and staking.

The next time you open your Nodle or Click app and see NODL, think of it less as a line on a price chart and more as a pass that lets you capture value from your phone's presence in the physical world, pay for on‑chain interactions with the same balance, earn yield by staking idle tokens, and gradually help steer how this Digital Trust Network evolves. As the ecosystem grows, that versatility is what will allow NODL to keep adapting to new use cases—whether that is new mission types, new integrations, or new real‑world applications—without forcing users to learn a new asset every time.

Ready to dive deeper into Web3? Keep an eye out for future and past editions of Crypto 101 covering DeFi, NFTs, DAOs and more. Until then, happy Clicking and keep those NODL coming.​