TON (blockchain)

Layer-1 blockchain network originally developed by Telegram, now maintained by the TON Foundation

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The Open Network

Other names| TON; formerly: Telegram Open Network
Original author(s)| Nikolai Durov, Pavel Durov
Developer(s)| TON Core, previously Telegram Messenger Inc.
Stable release|

v2025.03 / 11 March 2025; 45 days ago (2025-03-11)

Repository| github.com/ton-blockchain/ton
Written in| C++, FunC, Fift, Tact
Operating system| Linux, macOS, Windows
Platform| Blockchain, Distributed computing
Type| Blockchain, Cryptocurrency
License| LGPL v2.1
Website| ton.org

TON, also known as The Open Network (previously Telegram Open Network), is a decentralized layer-1 blockchain. TON was originally developed by Nikolai Durov who is also known for his role in creating the messaging platform, Telegram.

Telegram had planned to use TON to launch its own cryptocurrency (Gram), but was forced to abandon the project in 2020 following an injunction by US regulators.[1] The network was then renamed and independent developers have created their own cryptocurrencies and decentralized applications (dApps) using TON. Toncoin, the principal token of The Open Network is deeply integrated into the Telegram messaging app, used for paying rewards to creators and developers,[2] buying Telegram ads,[3] hosting giveaways[4] or purchasing services such as Telegram Premium.

## History

[edit]

The Open Network (TON) traces its origins to a blockchain project initiated by Telegram Messenger in 2018. Known at the time as the "Telegram Open Network," the project was designed to offer a high-throughput, scalable blockchain infrastructure capable of supporting decentralized applications and potentially integrating with Telegram’s global user base. To fund its development, Telegram conducted one of the largest private token sales in history, raising approximately US$1.7 billion through the planned issuance of a native token called "Gram." [5]

However, in October 2019, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Telegram, alleging that the Gram token constituted an unregistered security under U.S. law. In response to the litigation, Telegram agreed in June 2020 to a settlement that included returning US$1.2 billion to investors and paying an US$18.5 million civil penalty. As part of the settlement, Telegram ceased active development of the TON project and abandoned plans to launch the Gram token.[6]

Following Telegram’s exit, the open-source codebase of the original TON project was adopted by an independent group of developers and community members, who launched a community-driven fork called "Free TON" in May 2020. This initiative sought to continue the technical development of the network while emphasizing decentralized governance and contributor-led decision-making. In late 2021, Free TON rebranded as "Everscale," reflecting its architectural upgrades and strategic divergence from the original Telegram vision.[7]

Separately, in 2021, a different group of developers revived the original TON blockchain under the name "The Open Network" (TON), reintroducing a native cryptocurrency called Toncoin. This revival—sometimes referred to as "NewTON"—gained momentum following public endorsement from Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who expressed support for the initiative. Unlike Everscale, this implementation aimed to maintain closer alignment with Telegram’s original plans and branding.[8]

Telegram subsequently integrated Toncoin functionality into the messaging app via the @wallet bot, enabling users to send and receive cryptocurrency directly within Telegram chats. Since 2023, The Open Network has experienced rapid ecosystem growth, marked by the launch of liquid staking protocols, native non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces, TON DNS, TON Storage, and integration with Telegram’s Mini App framework. These developments have positioned TON as a high-performance layer-1 blockchain closely integrated with the Telegram platform.[9]

## Architecture

[edit]

### Overview

[edit]

The Open Network (TON) is a next-generation layer-1 blockchain designed to support decentralized applications, digital payments, smart contracts, and on-chain governance at Web3 scale. It emphasizes scalability, parallelism, and efficiency, enabling millions of smart contracts to operate concurrently across a dynamically sharded, multichain network.

### Network Architecture

[edit]

TON’s architecture is built around a hierarchical multi-blockchain model, consisting of a single masterchain, up to  2 32 {\displaystyle 2^{32}} workchains, and each workchain dynamically splitting into up to  2 60 {\displaystyle 2^{60}} shardchains based on load. This dynamic sharding mechanism ensures horizontal scalability, allowing the network to process thousands of transactions per second without congestion.[10]

Inter-chain communication is enabled by a hypercube routing protocol, supporting low-latency message transfers between chains in logarithmic time. This design ensures efficient cross-chain contract execution and data synchronization as the network scales globally.

The masterchain maintains critical network-wide metadata, including validator sets, configuration parameters, and references to all workchain blocks. Each workchain can define its own virtual machine and governance rules, enabling a wide range of specialized applications.

### Consensus and Governance

[edit]

TON employs a modified proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus with Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT). Validators are selected based on the amount of Toncoin staked and participate in block production and validation. Protocol upgrades and parameter changes are implemented via on-chain validator voting, with governance decisions automatically enforced by the consensus engine.[11]

Although the TON Foundation coordinates ecosystem growth and funds development initiatives, it does not hold unilateral control over protocol-level changes. The governance process is decentralized and driven by validator consensus.[12]

### TON Virtual Machine and Smart Contracts

[edit]

The TON Virtual Machine (TVM) is a high-performance, stack-based execution environment built for the TON blockchain, optimized for resource efficiency, asynchronous processing, and formal verification. It runs smart contracts in TVM-compatible bytecode, compiled from:

* Fift: A low-level language for stack manipulation and system-level contract development.[13]
* Func: A high-level, statically-typed language for secure and simplified contract creation.[14]
* Tact: A concise, modern language for safe and expressive smart contracts.[15]
* Tolk: A readability-focused language for simplifying complex contract logic.[16]

TVM smart contracts operate on a message-driven model, where inbound messages trigger execution, and outbound messages enable scalable, parallel interactions across shards. Gas fees are computed based on computation, memory, and storage usage.[17]

The TVM toolchain includes static analysis, formal verification, and debugging tools, ensuring contract security, reliability, and performance before deployment.[18]

### Security and Auditing

[edit]

TON’s security model combines economic incentives, formal verification, and third-party review. Malicious validators may be penalized via stake slashing, while contracts are designed to be auditable and verifiable before deployment.

The network features a program of certified Security Assurance Providers (SAPs), including firms such as CertiK, Quantstamp, SlowMist, Hexens, Vidma, Scalebit, and SoftStack. These entities perform contract audits, vulnerability analysis, and protocol review to ensure robust system security.[19]

## Applications

[edit]

The TON ecosystem includes a suite of decentralized applications and infrastructure protocols designed to enable scalable, censorship-resistant Web3 services. These components are natively integrated into the TON blockchain and supported by Toncoin, the network’s utility token.

### Toncoin

[edit]

Toncoin is the native utility token of The Open Network (TON), used for transaction fees, staking, smart contract execution, and protocol-level governance. Initially named Gram under the Telegram Open Network project, the token was rebranded following Telegram’s withdrawal in 2020 and the subsequent continuation of the project by independent developers.[20]

Toncoin serves as the medium of exchange across TON-based services, including file storage, anonymous routing, and domain registration. It also underpins incentive structures for validators and infrastructure operators in the network’s proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.

### TON DNS

[edit]

TON DNS is a decentralized domain name system that enables users to register human-readable `.ton` domains, which can be mapped to wallet addresses, smart contracts, and services. This system simplifies user interaction with blockchain-based resources and facilitates access to TON Sites via readable URLs such as `example.ton`. Domain ownership is enforced through on-chain smart contracts, with names acquired via auction or direct registration.[21]

### TON Sites and TON Proxy

[edit]

TON Sites allows for decentralized web hosting directly on the TON blockchain, using `.ton` domains. These sites are accessible through compatible browsers and TON-enabled wallets. Content is stored on-chain or via TON Storage and served without relying on centralized hosting providers.

TON Proxy is a decentralized anonymity protocol that enables nodes and users to obfuscate their identities and traffic. Inspired by systems like Tor and I2P, TON Proxy supports the creation of privacy-preserving services such as decentralized VPNs and censorship-resistant applications. The protocol also supports standard HTTP Proxy features to facilitate broader compatibility.

### TON Storage

[edit]

TON Storage is a distributed file storage system integrated with the TON blockchain. It allows users to upload large files, which are fragmented and stored across peer-to-peer nodes. Storage providers are compensated using smart contracts tied to service commitments. The system supports applications such as decentralized website hosting, smart contract metadata, and large media content delivery.[22]

### TON Payments

[edit]

TON Payments is an off-chain payment system designed for micropayments and high-frequency transactions. It uses payment channels to allow secure value transfers between users and services without immediately settling each transaction on-chain. Payments are finalized when channels are closed, reducing latency and transaction fees. This mechanism is used to compensate operators in services like TON Proxy and TON Storage.[23]

## Decentralized Finance (DeFi) on TON

[edit]

The TON blockchain supports a growing decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, offering high-throughput, low-fee infrastructure suitable for decentralized applications. With native support in the Telegram platform, TON DeFi products aim to improve accessibility and integrate blockchain-based financial services into mainstream user experiences.

### KTON

[edit]

KTON is a LST V2 built on TON.

KTON is a liquid staking protocol deployed on the TON blockchain. It is built using the TON Core Team’s Liquid Staking Contract V2 framework,[24] enabling users to stake Toncoin and receive liquid staking tokens (LSTs) in return. These tokens represent staked positions and can be freely transferred or used in other DeFi applications.

KTON’s architecture emphasizes instant liquidity, non-custodial staking, and future compatibility with on-chain governance. The project has undergone security audits and is positioned as a next-generation staking solution for both institutional and retail users on TON.[25]

### STON.fi

[edit]

STON.fi is a decentralized exchange (DEX) operating on the TON blockchain. It utilizes an automated market maker (AMM) model to allow users to swap TON-based assets without intermediaries. STON.fi supports the Jetton token standard and enables liquidity provision, yield farming, and permissionless trading.

Launched in 2022, STON.fi has grown to become one of the primary liquidity hubs in the TON ecosystem. It integrates with TON-native wallets such as Tonkeeper and Wallet (Telegram-integrated), and supports seamless interaction for on-chain users.[26][27]

### Tonkeeper

[edit]

Tonkeeper is a non-custodial wallet application for the TON blockchain. It allows users to manage Toncoin and Jetton-standard tokens, access DeFi protocols such as STON.fi, and interact with TON smart contracts. Tonkeeper is available on mobile and browser extensions and has become one of the most widely used wallets in the ecosystem.

### Telegram Wallet and TON Space

[edit]

Telegram has integrated native TON functionality into its messaging app through two products:

* Wallet: a custodial solution developed in partnership with the TON ecosystem, enabling in-chat transfers and payments.
* TON Space: a self-custodial browser-based wallet embedded in Telegram, giving users full control over their private keys and access to DeFi services directly within the platform.[28]

Telegram’s native support has played a significant role in driving user onboarding to TON-based DeFi products, especially among non-crypto-native audiences.

## Forks and related projects

[edit]

Following Telegram's withdrawal from the development of the TON blockchain in May 2020 due to legal pressure from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), several independent groups began building on the publicly available TON codebase. One of the earliest and most prominent forks was Free TON, which later rebranded to Everscale.

### Everscale (formerly Free TON)

[edit]

Launched on May 7, 2020, Free TON was initiated by a decentralized community of developers and validators using the open-source TON code released under the GNU General Public License. The project aimed to continue TON’s technological vision independently from Telegram. In November 2021, it was rebranded as Everscale to reflect the project's evolution and commitment to scalability. The rebranding included changing the network's native token name from TON Crystal to EVER.

Everscale introduced several protocol-level innovations, including dynamic sharding, a transition from C++ to Rust-based nodes, and a new governance structure via the EVER DAO. Its native token, EVER, was distributed through community-based contests and validation rewards, emphasizing a meritocratic distribution model. Unlike Toncoin, which is closely integrated into Telegram’s Web3 strategy, Everscale developed as a parallel ecosystem with its own development roadmap and tools.[29][30]

## References

[edit]

* Internet portal
* Economics portal
* Free and open-source software portal

1. ^ "Du Rove's Channel". Telegram. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
2. ^ "Mini App Bar, Paid Media, Story Search & More". Telegram. 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
3. ^ "Sharing Revenue with Channel Owners". Telegram. 2024-03-31. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
4. ^ "Giveaways in Channels and Free Premium". Telegram. 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
5. ^ "TON & Gram: how it started and why it ended". PaySpace Magazine. 2020-10-09.
6. ^ "Telegram Agrees to Pay $18.5M to Settle Gram Token Case With SEC". CoinDesk. 2020-06-26.
7. ^ "Free TON Rebrands to Everscale". Forklog. 2021-11-12.
8. ^ "Pavel Durov's Telegram post in support of TON". Telegram. 2021-12-23.
9. ^ "Telegram embraces TON blockchain with in-app crypto wallet". TechCrunch. 2023-09-13.
10. ^ Durov, Nikolai (2021). "TON Whitepaper" (PDF). TON Official Website. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
11. ^ "Blockchain of Blockchains | The Open Network". docs.ton.org. 2023-10-24.
12. ^ "Governance on TON". docs.ton.org.
13. ^ "Fift Language Overview". docs.ton.org. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
14. ^ "Func Language Overview". docs.ton.org. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
15. ^ "Tact Language Overview". docs.ton.org. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
16. ^ "Tolk Language Overview". docs.ton.org. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
17. ^ "TON Virtual Machine Overview". docs.ton.org. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
18. ^ "TON: The Virtual Machine". ton.org. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
19. ^ "Security Assurance Providers | The Open Network". docs.ton.org. 2024-02-06.
20. ^ "Telegram Abandons TON Blockchain Project Following SEC Fight". CoinDesk. 2020-05-13.
21. ^ "Web3 Has Come: The TON Foundation Launches TON Sites and TON Proxy". Yahoo Finance. 2022-09-30.
22. ^ "TON Storage – прорыв в Web3 или провал?". Хабр (in Russian). 2023-10-13.
23. ^ "Telegram запустил криптовалютный кошелек TON Space". РБК Крипто (in Russian). 2023-09-13.
24. ^ "Liquid Staking Contract V2". GitHub. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
25. ^ "KTON Official Website". Retrieved 2025-04-24.
26. ^ "STON.fi: The First DEX on TON Mainnet Goes Live". Cointelegraph. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
27. ^ "STON.fi Official Website". Retrieved 2025-04-24.
28. ^ "Telegram Adds Self-Custodial Wallet to 900M Users With TON Integration". CoinDesk. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
29. ^ "Free TON Announces Ecosystem Rebrand to Everscale, Strengthening Its Scalability Mission". PR Newswire. 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
30. ^ "FreeTON Moves Forward with Rebranding, Publicly Burns 3 Billion TON Crystal Tokens". Newsfile Corp. 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2025-04-24.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Ton-blockchain on GitHub

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