Discord is rolling out its in-app currency, Orbs, to everyone as of today. The shiny new system ties into its Quest feature—complete tasks like watching ads or trying out partnered game content, and earn Orbs to spend in-app. According to Discord’s official blog, Orbs can be redeemed for profile drip (badges, effects, avatars) or traded in for three-day Nitro credits—and even regular Shop items—without dropping a cent from your wallet.
So how did we get here? Discord quietly test-drove Orbs earlier this year, launching beta trials in May to collect feedback and fine-tune the system . Fast-forward to now: millions of Orbs have already exchanged hands, surveys indicate strong interest, and Discord claims over 80 percent of users in its beta survey said they’d welcome a digital currency in the app.
Engadget confirms the rollout, noting that Orbs won’t gate core functionality—if you hate ads or shiny loot, you can just ghost right past it . The Verge also flagged the ad-watch route, and game devs are already tying Orbs to gameplay quests to increase visibility. Want in on the action? Hit the Discover → Quests tab on desktop to start stacking up Orbs.
What you can redeem:
- Orbs-exclusive badge, nameplates, effects, avatars
- Three-day Discord Nitro trials
- Other Shop items priced in Orbs
Discord’s help center clarifies you can’t buy partner-branded items, gifts, Boosts, or recurring Nitro subs with Orbs
This rollout marks a new era in Discord’s ad platform—one where user attention is captured, rewarded, and carefully balanced so they don’t feel like walking billboards. For advertisers, Orbs offers a plug-and-play way to incentivize engagement while Discord controls the currency economy .
Between optional ads, shiny profile loot, and free Nitro trials, Discord’s laying down a clever carrot. Whether it’s a win for users or a sliding scale of micro-monetization depends on how aggressive the Quests get—and how well Discord balances ad fatigue with actual fun.
