# Overview {% hint style="warning" %} **The Oxen Network has transitioned to the Session Network. More information** [**here**](https://oxen.io/blog/development-is-transitioning-to-session-token)**.** {% endhint %} The Oxen blockchain and the $OXEN token are at the heart of Oxen. Together they brought **privacy**, **incentivisation**, and **decentralisation** to the Oxen tech stack. Oxen's blockchain was maintained by the [Oxen Service Node network](/oxen-docs/about-the-oxen-blockchain/oxen-service-nodes.md), a network of blockchain nodes operated by members of the Oxen community. Running a service node requires [*staking*](/oxen-docs/using-the-oxen-blockchain/oxen-service-node-guides/staking-to-shared-service-node.md) — which means voluntarily locking — a certain amount of $OXEN tokens. The staking requirement to run a service node was **15,000 $OXEN** or **3,750 $OXEN** for a shared node. In exchange for maintaining reliable and trustworthy blockchain nodes, node operators periodically received rewards in the form of $OXEN tokens. Oxen was originally forked from [Monero](https://www.getmonero.org), and it's still based on the CryptoNote protocol. From these beginnings, Oxen has inherited world class privacy and security features — including ring signatures, stealth addresses, and ring confidential transactions. Just like $XMR, $OXEN is fungible, private, and untraceable. The Oxen blockchain got started in 2018, with its first ever block being confirmed on March 5 of that year. Ever since then, the blockchain has been successfully and securely operating. On October 15 2019, we made the transition to [Pulse](/oxen-docs/about-the-oxen-blockchain/pulse-pos-on-oxen.md) — making Oxen one of the first ever Proof of Stake CryptoNote projects. The entire history of the Oxen blockchain can be easily viewed via [this](https://oxen.observer/) block explorer. As for the future, you can stay up to date on the project by checking out our [Oxen Labs Updates](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8foWl0AK1zG5PbYMunNlbHFpjcv44dKu). The Oxen blockchain also boasts [Blink](/oxen-docs/about-the-oxen-blockchain/blink-instant-transactions.md) — truly private, instant transactions. Blink allows you to make transactions with all the confidence Monero enthusiasts love, but with a 1 second transaction time. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.oxen.io/oxen-docs/about-the-oxen-blockchain/overview.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.