Discord is testing a new virtual currency called Orbs, designed to reward users who take part in interactive advertising experiences inside the platform.
The feature is currently in limited beta and only available to a small group of users on desktop, with wider access expected in the coming months.
Orbs are earned by completing Quests—Discord’s ad-driven challenges where users are encouraged to watch product videos, test out games, or interact with promotional content.
In return, users collect Orbs that can be redeemed for digital items from Discord’s Shop.
Available rewards include profile badges, decorative avatar effects, items from official collections, and even Nitro credits.
For example, users can exchange 1,400 Orbs for a three-day Nitro trial.
Nitro, Discord’s paid subscription, typically costs around $10 per month.
This move is seen as part of a larger push to scale Discord’s advertising model.
Previously, Quests only offered brand-specific in-game items or digital bonuses directly from advertisers.
Orbs change that by offering a unified reward system within the Discord ecosystem, giving users more control over what they earn.
Peter Sellis, Discord’s senior vice president of product, recently shared that over 70 Quests reached a 10% acceptance rate in the past year.
He pointed out that, according to Discord’s internal data, millions of rewards were earned.
The introduction of Orbs comes as Discord reportedly explores the possibility of going public.
Discussions with investment banks have taken place, according to The New York Times, though a final IPO date has not been confirmed.
Sources suggest the offering could happen before the end of 2025.
Discord, founded in 2015, has grown into one of the world’s most popular online communication platforms, especially among gamers and online communities.
By expanding Quests and adding Orbs, Discord appears to be building a more robust monetisation model to show potential investors.
It also provides a new route for non-paying users to try premium features like Nitro without using a credit card.
Currently, Quests can be found on desktop through the Discover tab in the app’s bottom-left corner.
While they remain a PC-only feature for now, Discord plans to roll them out to mobile devices starting in June.
Once Orbs are activated on a user’s account, they can be tracked and redeemed via the Shop found under Direct Messages.
Despite the name evoking something out of a fantasy game, Orbs can’t be traded or spent outside of Discord.
They also don’t have any cash value.
Still, for users who enjoy customising their profiles or exploring Nitro features without upfront cost, Orbs might prove a useful incentive to engage with the platform’s sponsored content.
The feature remains in beta for now, but its global rollout could significantly change how Discord balances user engagement, advertising, and monetisation.
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