OmniCore is the official desktop wallet and reference implementation of the Omni Layer protocol — a token system built on the Bitcoin blockchain since 2013. It runs as a full Bitcoin node with native support for creating, sending, and trading custom tokens including OMNI and historical USDT-Omni.

OMNI coins are the native token of the Omni Layer protocol on Bitcoin (property ID #1). Total supply is 619,478 OMNI, created during the Mastercoin crowdsale in August 2013. OMNI is used for fee distribution on the OmniDEX decentralized exchange.

What happened to Omni Coin?

Omni Coin (OMNI) is still active on the Bitcoin blockchain. After Tether ended USDT-Omni support in September 2025, transaction volume declined but the protocol continues to operate. OmniCore v0.13.0 ships in 2026 with active development on GitHub.

Is OmniCore the same as Omni Network?

No. OmniCore is the Bitcoin-based Omni Layer wallet operating since 2013. Omni Network was a separate Ethereum L2 project that rebranded to Nomina in September 2025 and migrated its token from $OMNI to $NOM. They are different projects on different blockchains.

How much is one Omni coin?

Live OMNI/USD price is published on the OmniCore exchange page (omnicore.net/exchange) using CoinGecko data, refreshed every 60 seconds. OMNI trades on multiple exchanges and via the on-chain OmniDEX.

About OmniCore

OmniCore is the reference implementation of the Omni Layer protocol — the first token system ever built on Bitcoin. What started as Mastercoin in 2012 became the foundation for custom tokens, decentralized trading, and blockchain-based crowdfunding on the most secure network in existence.

This is not a new project. This is a rebuilt one.

The Mastercoin Origin

In January 2012, software engineer J.R. Willett published "The Second Bitcoin White Paper." His thesis was simple: the Bitcoin network could serve as a foundation layer for higher-level protocols — enabling custom currencies, smart contracts, and decentralized exchange without building a new blockchain.

In August 2013, Willett launched the Mastercoin crowdsale. Anyone who sent Bitcoin to the Exodus Address (1EXoDusjGwvnjZUyKkxZ4UHEf77z6A5S4P) before the deadline received 100 Mastercoin tokens per BTC. Approximately 563 BTC were raised. This was the first time a blockchain project raised funds by distributing tokens to supporters — a mechanism that would later be called an Initial Coin Offering.

The Mastercoin protocol proved that Bitcoin's blockchain could carry more than just BTC. It could represent any asset, any currency, any right — embedded in the same transactions that miners already secured. For a focused breakdown of the 2015 rebrand and current status, see What happened to Mastercoin.

Protocol Timeline

2012

J.R. Willett publishes "The Second Bitcoin White Paper," proposing a meta-protocol layer on Bitcoin.

August 2013

Mastercoin crowdsale launches. 619,478 OMNI tokens created via the Exodus Address. First-ever cryptocurrency crowdsale.

2014

Bitcoin introduces OP_RETURN, giving Omni Layer a dedicated data field for token operations. Tether (USDT) launches on Omni Layer — the first stablecoin on Bitcoin.

March 2015

Mastercoin Foundation rebrands to Omni Foundation. Protocol becomes Omni Layer. Reference client becomes Omni Core.

2015–2021

Active development continues. Omni Core releases v0.2.0 through v0.11.0. Decentralized exchange (OmniDEX) goes live. Freeze tokens, multi-send, and funded transactions added. 15+ exchanges list OMNI or Omni Layer tokens.

2023

Tether announces it will stop minting USDT on Omni Layer, citing declining usage on the network.

September 2025

Tether officially ends Omni Layer support. Separately, the unrelated Omni Network project rebrands to Nomina, vacating the "Omni" name entirely.

2026

OmniCore v0.13.0 ships. The protocol continues. The wallet is rebuilt. The original Bitcoin token platform comes home to omnicore.net.

The Omni Foundation

The Omni Foundation standardizes, protects, and promotes the Omni Layer protocol for the benefit of Bitcoin protocol users worldwide.

The Foundation oversees:

•Protocol specification and enhancement proposals (OLEs)
•OmniCore development and release management
•Open-source repository maintenance on GitHub
•Community coordination and documentation

OmniCore development is led by contributors on GitHub, with all releases cryptographically signed. The project has no venture funding, no token sale beyond the original 2013 Mastercoin distribution, and no corporate parent. It runs on code and community.

Key capabilities include the built-in block explorer for verifying token data locally, OmniDEX for decentralized on-chain trading, and token creation in a single Bitcoin transaction. For the full development story, see Is OmniCore Still Active in 2026?

How It Works

The Omni Layer is a communications protocol that operates on top of the Bitcoin blockchain. The relationship is comparable to HTTP running on TCP/IP — Bitcoin provides the transport layer, Omni Layer provides the application logic.

Omni transactions are standard Bitcoin transactions with additional data encoded via OP_RETURN. Bitcoin nodes process these transactions normally. Omni-aware software — like OmniCore — interprets the embedded data to track token balances, execute trades, and manage properties.

This design means:

•Every Omni transaction is settled by Bitcoin miners
•Token data is permanently recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain
•No separate consensus mechanism or validator set exists
•Security inherits directly from Bitcoin's proof-of-work

OmniCore is built as a superset of Bitcoin Core (currently based on version 0.20.1). It runs as a full Bitcoin node with additional RPC commands for Omni Layer operations. All standard Bitcoin functionality — sending BTC, address management, wallet encryption — works identically.

Download OmniCore

Open Source

OmniCore is released under the MIT license. The complete source code, build instructions, and release history are available on GitHub.

•OmniCore client: github.com/OmniLayer/omnicore
•Protocol specification: github.com/OmniLayer/spec
•Documentation: github.com/OmniLayer/Documentation

Contributors welcome. Issues, pull requests, and OLE proposals accepted through GitHub.

A Note on Names

The cryptocurrency space has seen multiple projects use the "Omni" name. For clarity:

OmniCore / Omni Layer

The protocol described on this site. Bitcoin-based. Operating since 2013. Token: OMNI (property ID #1 on the Omni Layer).

Omni Network → Nomina

An unrelated Ethereum L2 interoperability protocol. Rebranded to Nomina in September 2025. Token migrated from $OMNI to $NOM. Not connected to the Omni Layer or OmniCore.

Omni Web3 Wallet

A separate mobile wallet product by Steakwallet (now rebranded). Not affiliated with the Omni Layer.

If you're looking for the original Bitcoin token protocol, you're in the right place. Common starting points: MaidSafeCoin wallet, USDT on Omni Layer, how to buy OMNI, and the Omni Explorer alternative.

Download OmniCore v0.13.0