Loopring (LRC) is an Ethereum layer-2 decentralized exchange protocol using zkRollup (zero-knowledge rollup) technology — enabling users to trade ERC-20 tokens with Ethereum-level security but at orders-of-magnitude lower cost and higher speed than on-chain trading. All trade settlement uses ZK validity proofs posted to Ethereum; no trusted third party can steal or freeze funds. LRC is the governance and fee token of the Loopring protocol. Founded by Daniel Wang, it was one of the earliest production zkRollup DEXs.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | LRC |
| Price | $0.02 |
| Market Cap | $20.73M |
| 24h Change | +3.9% |
| Circulating Supply | 1.25B LRC |
| Max Supply | 1.37B LRC |
| All-Time High | $3.75 |
| Contract (Ethereum) | 0xbbbb...eafd |
| Contract (Energi) | 0x193d...bbec |
| Contract (Arbitrum One) | 0x46d0...7fbe |
How It Works
- zkRollup settlements — Trading occurs in the Loopring L2 environment. When positions change, Loopring generates a ZK-SNARK proof that all state transitions are valid and posts it to Ethereum L1 alongside a compressed state update. Ethereum verifies the proof without executing every trade.
- Order book model — Unlike most DeFi AMMs, the Loopring Exchange uses an order book model (centralized order matching with decentralized settlement). This allows limit orders and more traditional trading mechanics while maintaining non-custodial security.
- Non-custodial — Users maintain control of their keys. They register their Ethereum address with the Loopring L2 and sign off-chain transactions. Funds can always be withdrawn to Ethereum by submitting an on-chain exit transaction.
- Loopring Wallet — A smart contract wallet allowing users to manage ETH and ERC-20 tokens with social recovery features, powered by Loopring’s L2.
- LRC utility — Protocol fees are collected in LRC. A portion of LRC is burned, staked by market makers providing liquidity, or distributed as insurance against loss events.
Tokenomics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | LRC |
| Chain | Ethereum (ERC-20) + Loopring L2 |
| Contract | 0xbbbbca6a901c926f240b89eacb641d8aec7aeafd |
| Max Supply | ~1,395,076,055 (~1.395 billion) |
| Launch | February 11, 2019 (mainnet with zkRollup) |
| Fee model | Trading fees collected in LRC; portion burned/staked |
Use Cases
- Low-cost DEX trading — Trade ERC-20 tokens on Loopring L2 with minimal gas fees.
- Limit orders — Place limit orders (not available in standard AMMs like Uniswap).
- Payments — Transfer tokens on Loopring L2 for near-zero cost.
- Smart wallet — Loopring Wallet provides social recovery and L2 integration.
- Staking — Stake LRC to earn a share of protocol fees.
History
- 2017 — Daniel Wang (formerly Google, Uber engineering) founded Loopring. ICO raises ~$45 million (August 2017).
- 2018 — Loopring Ring Matching Protocol v1.0 launches on Ethereum mainnet (order matching on-chain). Expensive but functional.
- 2019-02-11 — Loopring 3.0 with zkRollup launches. A landmark: the first production zkRollup DEX on Ethereum.
- 2019-07 — Loopring Exchange opens to public users. Throughput of ~2,025 TPS demonstrated vs. Ethereum’s ~15 TPS for on-chain DEXs.
- 2020–2021 — DeFi boom drives interest. Loopring TVL grows. LRC reaches all-time high of ~$3.83 in November 2021 following rumors of a GameStop (GME) NFT marketplace partnership.
- 2021 — GameStop NFT marketplace launch — later confirmed Loopring is the technical partner. The GME/LRC partnership drives a massive LRC price spike on retail speculation.
- 2022 — GameStop NFT marketplace launches, using Loopring L2 for NFT trading. Bear market and reduced interest in NFTs results in GameStop NFT marketplace shutting down October 2023.
- 2023-10 — GameStop shuts down its NFT marketplace. LRC price declines. Loopring pivots focus to payment and DeFi use cases.
- 2024 — Loopring continues L2 development. ZK-EVM competitors (Polygon zkEVM, zkSync) have entered the market. Loopring focuses on its DEX/trading niche.
Common Misconceptions
“Loopring is an AMM like Uniswap.”
Loopring uses an order book model with off-chain matching and on-chain ZK settlement — not an AMM liquidity pool model. This means limit orders are supported but liquidity provision works differently.
“The GameStop partnership made Loopring a mainstream product.”
The GameStop NFT marketplace used Loopring L2 but saw limited mainstream adoption. It was shut down in October 2023. Loopring’s core DEX operations continued independently.
Social Media Sentiment
Loopring had an outsized moment in November 2021 when retail investors connected it to GameStop (GME) meme stock energy. LRC briefly became one of the most discussed altcoins. Post-GameStop-NFT-closure sentiment cooled. The technical community respects Loopring as a zkRollup pioneer, but ZK-EVM L2s (zkSync, Polygon zkEVM, Scroll) have attracted more developer attention. Loopring remains focused on its trading use case.
Last updated: 2026-04