The native token of the Avalanche blockchain is AVAX.
Avalanche is a proof-of-stake smart-contract platform launched on its mainnet in September 2020 by Ava Labs. AVAX is used to pay transaction fees, secure the network through staking, and provide the basic unit for activity across Avalanche’s ecosystem.
Avalanche is not the same thing as AVAX: Avalanche is the blockchain platform and protocol, while AVAX is its token. The ticker can also be confused with tokens from other layer-1 networks, such as APT for Aptos, ALGO for Algorand, and ATOM for Cosmos.
AVAX is also used throughout Avalanche’s network architecture, including its Primary Network and application-specific Avalanche L1s. Unlike mining-based cryptocurrencies, Avalanche’s validator security comes from users staking AVAX and participating in consensus. That utility is why AVAX is the canonical answer rather than a general label such as “Avalanche coin.”