# MEZO Overview

_The native token for boosting voting power and value capture_

_Source: https://mezo.org/docs/users/mezo_

MEZO is Mezo's native token. It influences the direction of incentives and captures value generated by the chain.

## What is MEZO?

MEZO serves as the strategic coordination asset for the Mezo network. It doesn't replace BTC's role as pristine collateral—it amplifies and influences the direction of value that Bitcoin activity creates.

MEZO is used to:

- **Boost voting power** — Lock MEZO as veMEZO to multiply your veBTC voting weight by up to 5x
- **Earn rebase rewards** — veMEZO holders receive anti-dilution rebases from weekly emissions

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## MEZO vs veMEZO

|  | MEZO | veMEZO |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Liquid, transferable token | NFT representing locked MEZO |
| How you get it | Purchase, earn, or receive via airdrop | Lock MEZO for 1 week to 4 years |
| What it does | Hold or trade | Boosts veBTC voting power, votes on MEZO Gauges, earns rebases |

## Key Properties

- **Two jobs** — veMEZO multiplies veBTC weight on staking gauges, and votes in its own right on [veBTC boost gauges](/docs/users/mezo-earn/lock/vemezo/matching-market) and [MEZO Gauges](/docs/users/mezo-earn/vote/mezo-gauges). It carries no governance weight of its own.
- **No standalone staking gauge vote** — veMEZO cannot vote on staking gauges without veBTC.
- **Time-weighted** — Longer locks = higher veMEZO weight
- **Transferable as NFT** — veMEZO positions are ERC-721 NFTs that can be transferred or merged