These 5 CEX Tokens Are Leading the Utility Shift in Crypto

Crypto is back in the spotlight for 2025, but this time it's different. After months of violent corrections, traders and investors want more than simply price increases.

Crypto is back in the spotlight for 2025, but this time it’s different. After months of violent corrections, traders and investors want more than simply price increases. Tokens issued by exchanges are now gaining attention for their evident utility rather than hype.

These native tokens are growing into multi-purpose assets that drive platform innovations, encourage user involvement, and even serve as a bridge to regulated finance. The five tokens listed here, from old CEX classics to a new token with rich TradFi origins, should be on your 2025 crypto watch list.

GateToken (GT) powers the Gate.io exchange and its GateChain network. GT holders get lower trading costs and early access to upcoming token auctions. They also get governance privileges, which let them vote on key platform issues like listing approvals and protocol improvements.

A deflationary tokenomics paradigm underlies these benefits. Gate.io began with 300 million GT, but fewer than 100 million are still in circulation now. Each quarter, the platform spends 15% of its income on buying back and burning GT, gradually diminishing supply and hoping to enhance scarcity and potential value over time.

These advantages are further amplified by the integration of GateToken into various platform services. For instance, in the rapidly expanding field of Web3 gaming, GateToken serves as a core currency, offering seamless interoperability within the ecosystem.

Moreover, Gate.io's strategy to expand into new markets and user segments is aided by the token. As the exchange introduces more fiat currencies and payment methods, GateToken will play a pivotal role in facilitating seamless transactions and a smooth onboarding experience for diverse users.

MultiBank Group’s MBG token ushers in a new era of exchange-issued assets by merging TradFi rigor and crypto innovation. MultiBank handles over $4.5 trillion in trade volume, owns 17 regulatory licenses in major markets (including VARA in Dubai and ASIC in Australia), and serves over 2 million customers in over 100 countries.

The MBG ecosystem comprises three main platforms. MultiBank FX, the group’s primary CFD trading arm, manages $35 billion in daily volume and trades currencies, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrency with full regulatory oversight. MEX Exchange is an institutional ECN designed for deep liquidity in emerging markets, handling an estimated $40 billion in daily volume and aiming for $460 billion within five years.

Finally, MultiBank.io provides a regulated digital-asset exchange and custody service, offering spot and derivative trading, staking, fiat on-ramps, and impeccable security.

MBG holders receive fee savings, monthly usage rewards, and access to unique IEOs. The token is also integral to a historic $3 billion real-world asset deal—the biggest RWA tokenization yet—bringing luxury Dubai properties on-chain. To promote scarcity, up to half of MBG’s total supply will be repurchased and burned, depending on platform activity.

In an industry seeking legitimacy, MBG stands as a link between traditional banking and the promise of blockchain.

KuCoin Token (KCS) combines utility and passive income. Holders use KCS to pay trading fees and save up to 20%. Simply holding KCS grants you daily incentives funded by a portion of the exchange’s trading revenues.

In addition to fee reductions, KCS provides early access to KuCoin Spotlight token offerings and accepts a variety of payment methods, including trip reservations, gambling, and retail.

KCS follows a deflationary model: KuCoin uses a percentage of its net income to buy back KCS tokens, which are then permanently burned. The goal is to reduce the total supply from 200 million to 100 million, thereby increasing scarcity and hopefully driving long-term value.

This combination of real-world utility and limited supply makes KCS a popular choice among traders seeking both savings and income sharing.

Bitget’s BGB is the native token for the Bitget exchange and its integrated wallet ecosystem. BGB is used for functions such as trading, paying fees, participating in platform activities, and staking for additional rewards. It also powers Bitget’s social trading capabilities, which enable users to copy the trades of elite traders.

Originally limited to 2 billion tokens, 25% were traded for BGB by early BFT holders. To maintain scarcity, Bitget conducts quarterly burns, which remove tokens from circulation.

BGB holders get tiered privileges such as fee savings on spot and derivatives, priority access to airdrops, and invites to special events. By integrating BGB into spot, futures, and DeFi services, Bitget ensures that the token remains crucial to the growth of its ecosystem.

The HTX Token (HT) is an ERC-20 asset on the Ethereum network and originated from the original Huobi Token. It’s a key part of the HTX exchange, offering trading fee savings and access to platform-specific services.