What Is Toncoin (TON)?
Toncoin (TON) is the native cryptocurrency of the decentralized layer-1 blockchain, The Open Network (TON). The TON blockchain is open-sourced and supported by many network contributors, including the Switzerland-based non-profit organization, the TON Foundation.
Since 2017, the Telegram team had been developing the codebase for a blockchain network, then named Telegram Open Network (TON), with a native cryptocurrency named 'Gram.' In May 2020, Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov announced the end of Telegram's involvement with the TON Blockchain following a court order by the SEC. The Gram token was never issued.
Since 2020, the technology has been developed by an independent community of developers and blockchain enthusiasts. The non-profit TON Foundation is the most prominent of these supporters. The blockchain was renamed from "Telegram Open Network" to "The Open Network," with Toncoin now the native cryptocurrency of the TON network.
The whitepaper contains part of the original codebase written by Dr. Nikolai Durov, co-founder of Telegram and brother of Pavel Durov. Toncoin utilizes the proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus model for network scalability and reliability.
TON Foundation's vision is to empower 500 million users to own their digital identity, data, and assets by 2028 by empowering developers to build a Web3 ecosystem in Telegram Messenger.
Who Founded Toncoin?
The Open Network (TON) is an open-source and decentralized blockchain.
The TON Foundation, which launched and developed The Open Network (TON), was established by Anatoliy Makosov and Kirill Emelianenko.
What Makes Toncoin Unique?
TON has a multi-level structure built on the principle of sharding or segmentation (TON can be thought of as "a blockchain of blockchains"). TON’s sharding feature involves the use of multiple subnets (shards) on the same blockchain, where each shard has a specific purpose. It allows the network to avoid the accumulation of unverified blocks and significantly speeds up tasks. This sharding technology enables TON to scale effectively and efficiently, meaning that TON can theoretically perform a near-limitless number of simultaneous, ultra-fast transactions.
TON’s capacity to scale while ensuring transactions remain cheap and fast is just one of the reasons that Telegram has endorsed TON as their official Web3 infrastructure. Telegram and the TON Foundation will integrate and promote the TON-based Web3 ecosystem in Telegram. The partners’ mission is to onboard 30% of all Telegram users to TON by 2028. Telegram’s commitment to TON blockchain provides developers and merchants across the world with unrivalled access to a rapidly expanding global audience of Web3 familiar users.
Alongside this unprecedented access, TON’s role as Telegram’s official Web3 infrastructure has also supported the development of a best-in-class cryptocurrency payments solution. Wallet, a TON-based platform directly integrated into Telegram, enables instantaneous P2P transactions and borderless payments for merchants within Telegram. Wallet’s unique value as a crypto-based payments facilitator was recently cemented with the announcement that, in conjunction with Telegram, Tether, and TON Foundation, Wallet would now enable users to make low-cost USDT payments with the click of a button, making crypto as easy as texting.
TON also offers the following services: TON Storage offers the benefits of private encryption using the private key of the owner's wallet; TON Proxy uses all platform components and allows clients to access the TON blockchain via decentralized VPNs; and TON DNS (decentralized name system) makes it possible for traditional websites to work in the TON network, allowing users to set short, readable names.
How Many Toncoin (TON) Coins Are There in Circulation?
The TON network has its native token, Toncoin, with a circulating supply of 3.47B and a maximum supply of 5B TON.
Toncoin was designed to be a utility token that fuels dApps within the ecosystem. TON can be used to build decentralized applications (dApps), with Toncoin used to pay transaction processing fees and cross-chain transaction fees. The token can also be used as a staking payment to secure the blockchain. The list of use cases also includes payment for decentralized data storage, TON DNS/TON Proxy, and other fees within TON-based decentralized services. Validator fees are also paid in TON.
How Is the Toncoin (TON) Network Secured?
The network utilizes the proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism to validate transactions. Validator rewards are paid in Toncoin. Nominators can also provide tokens to validators and receive rewards. Validators and nominators are managed with smart contracts, providing the network extra protection. Smart contracts are executed using TON Virtual Machine (TVM).
Where Can You Buy Toncoin (TON)?
Toncoin (TON) is listed on multiple crypto exchanges like Huobi Global, KuCoin, Uniswap (V3), Gate.io, OKX, LBank, MEXC, EXMO, CoinEx, Biswap, BitMart, Nomiswap, BitoPro, ACE, DigiFinex, Tidex, Unocoin, Bit.com, BingX, Bybit] (https://coinmarketcap.com/exchanges/bybit/), and [HitBTC.
Read CoinMarketCap's in-depth guide on tokenomics.
Related Pages:
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What is proof-of-stake (PoS)? Learn more with the CMC glossary.
What is Web 3.0? Find out more with CMC Alexandria.
What is Blockchain?
Blockchain is a decentralized and distributed ledger technology that securely records transactions across multiple computers in a verifiable and permanent way. It forms the underlying technology for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and enables transparency, security, and immutability.
What is Cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual form of currency that uses cryptography for security. It operates on decentralized networks, typically based on blockchain technology, and facilitates secure and transparent peer-to-peer transactions.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by an anonymous person or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates on a decentralized peer-to-peer network and is used for secure, transparent, and censorship-resistant transactions.
What is the difference between Bitcoin and Altcoins?
Bitcoin is the original and most widely recognized cryptocurrency, while altcoins refer to any other cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin. Examples of altcoins include Ethereum, Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC), and many others.
What is Staking?
Staking involves participants locking up a certain amount of cryptocurrency in a wallet to support the operations of a blockchain network. It is commonly associated with proof-of-stake (PoS) and delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) consensus mechanisms, where participants receive rewards for helping secure the network.
How Can I Stake Cryptocurrency?
To stake cryptocurrency, you typically need to choose a platform or network that supports staking. Transfer your tokens to a compatible wallet, follow the staking instructions provided by the platform, and lock up the desired amount of cryptocurrency. Once staked, you may start earning rewards.
What Are Staking Rewards and How Are They Calculated?
Staking rewards are incentives provided to participants who lock up their cryptocurrency to support the network. The amount of rewards varies and is influenced by factors such as the network's inflation rate, the total amount staked, and the specific rules of the staking protocol.
Can I Unstake My Cryptocurrency at Any Time?
The ability to unstake and withdraw your cryptocurrency depends on the specific staking protocol and network. Some platforms may have lock-up periods or unbonding periods during which your staked tokens are inaccessible. Always check the terms and conditions of the staking service.
What are the Risks of Staking?
Staking comes with risks, including the potential loss of staked funds if a participant behaves maliciously or fails to fulfill their responsibilities. Market volatility can also impact the value of staked tokens. It's crucial to thoroughly research the staking protocol and understand the associated risks.
Can I Lose Money by Staking?
While staking is designed to be a rewarding activity, there is a risk of losing money, especially if the value of the staked cryptocurrency decreases or if the staking protocol encounters security issues. It's important to consider both the potential rewards and risks before participating in staking.