Owning REQ: Uses, Wallets and Risks

Request Network lets people create payment requests and invoices that can be shared with a counterparty. The request can specify a destination address, amount and payment terms; the network records invoice and payment activity for accounting. REQ is the network’s utility token, intended to support its operation and stability. The project describes access to the network as relying on a proof-of-burn mechanism, but that does not make REQ a stablecoin or guarantee that holding it produces income.

REQ and a payment request are different things: REQ is a crypto asset, while an invoice can describe a payment in another currency or crypto asset. Before using the network, check which assets and payment options the particular service or wallet supports. Request’s payment approach is peer-to-peer, but using it still involves blockchain transactions and their associated network fees. Those fees are generally paid in the chain’s gas token, not necessarily in REQ.

REQ has been issued on Ethereum and Polygon. It is a token on those networks, not the native gas coin for either one. When choosing a wallet, make sure it supports the network you plan to use and can display and send REQ on that network. A wallet that supports Ethereum assets may not automatically show a Polygon balance, or vice versa.

Before receiving or sending REQ, confirm the selected network and the token’s contract address using a trusted Request Network channel. Do not rely on a token name or ticker alone: unrelated assets can use the same name or symbol. Sending tokens to an address or network that the receiving wallet or service does not support can make them difficult or impossible to recover. Keep enough of the relevant network’s gas token available for transactions; REQ itself may not cover that fee. If you use an exchange, check its REQ deposit and withdrawal networks carefully, since support can differ from wallet support.

REQ has a maximum supply of 1 billion tokens. As of 2026-11-08, about 796.7 million were circulating and about 999.4 million were listed as total supply. The gap between circulating and total supply matters: the maximum is not the same as the number currently circulating, and supply figures can change as tokens enter circulation or are removed.

For context, REQ was trading at about $0.049, with a market capitalization of about $38.7 million, as of 2026-11-08. These are snapshots, not a measure of what you could sell for later; market prices and liquidity can move quickly. The token’s recorded all-time high was about $1.06 on 2018-01-05, but that historical price does not indicate a likely future value. Check current supply and market figures before making a decision, and consider how much of your overall crypto holdings you would be comfortable exposing to one project.

Treat REQ like any other crypto asset: a wallet transfer is usually irreversible, and losing your recovery phrase can mean losing access permanently. Store the recovery phrase offline, never share it, and avoid keeping a photo or cloud copy that someone else could access. For larger holdings, consider a hardware wallet, and test your setup with a small transfer before moving a significant amount.

REQ’s main risks include price volatility, changes in demand for Request Network, and the possibility that the project’s services or token utility do not attract lasting use. Its market price was down about 62.7% over the year ending 2026-11-08, illustrating that substantial losses are possible; past performance does not predict future results. There are also blockchain risks: choosing the wrong network, interacting with a fake token, or approving a malicious transaction can cost you funds. Check the recipient address and transaction details each time, and do not treat the token’s stated role in the network as a guarantee of value or returns.