Architecture & blockchain
18 articlesBlock Structure in TON Blockchain
TON blocks consist of a fixed-size header and a variable-size body, using Merkle trees and infinity‑sharding to achieve scalable, verifiable storage.
Blockchain Terminology
A concise glossary of core blockchain concepts, from basic structures to TON‑specific architecture.
Cryptography in TON
An overview of cryptographic principles used in TON, covering symmetric, asymmetric, and hybrid encryption and their role in securing the network.
KYC
KYC (Know Your Customer) is a set of procedures to verify client identity, used in finance and crypto, including TON’s @Wallet.
Key Metrics of TON
Key metrics such as TPS, block propagation time, active wallets, daily transactions, fees, and node decentralization gauge TON’s performance and security.
Layer 1 Blockchain
Layer 1 blockchains provide the base ledger and consensus layer, handling transaction finality and security while facing the blockchain trilemma.
Node
A node is a computer that stores, processes, and validates TON blockchain data, supporting decentralization and scalability.
Smart Contracts
Smart contracts are autonomous programs on the TON blockchain, written in FunC, Tact or Tolk and executed by the TON Virtual Machine with sharding for scalability.
TON Blockchain Architecture
TON uses a bag‑of‑cells data model, Infinite Sharding Paradigm, and a masterchain that coordinates shardchains and configurable smart contracts.
TON Proxy
TON Proxy is a decentralized network of proxy servers on the TON blockchain that provides encrypted, censorship‑resistant access to .ton sites.
TON Sharding
TON Sharding splits the masterchain into workchains and shardchains, enabling dynamic scaling and high throughput.
TON Storage
TON Storage is a peer‑to‑peer file storage system on the TON network that lets users upload any type of data and retrieve it via a decentralized hash table.
TON Virtual Machine (TVM)
The TON Virtual Machine (TVM) is a stack‑based virtual machine that executes smart contracts on the TON blockchain, using cells and continuations for deterministic on‑chain computation.
Telegram Open Network
Telegram Open Network (TON) was Telegram’s original blockchain project, featuring the $GRAM token, a 2019 SEC lawsuit, and a 2020 shutdown before community forks revived the code.
The Open Network
The Open Network (TON) is a Layer 1 blockchain built on Proof‑of‑Stake and dynamic sharding, originally created by Telegram and now community‑driven.
Toncoin
Toncoin is the native cryptocurrency of The Open Network, used for fees, staking, and payments within the TON ecosystem.
Validator
A validator is a PoS network node that verifies transactions and creates new blocks, requiring a stake and rewarding participants with fees and newly minted tokens.
Zero-Knowledge (ZK) Proofs
Zero‑knowledge proofs let a prover convince a verifier of a statement’s truth without revealing any underlying data.