TON Storage

TON Storage is a decentralized peer‑to‑peer storage layer built into the TON (The Open Network) blockchain. It enables individuals and services to upload files of any format—videos, images, documents, archives—and make them globally available without relying on a centralized provider.

Files are stored on the uploader’s device, but once registered on the TON network they become part of a distributed network. Any user can download the data, and each downloader automatically becomes a storage node that helps replicate the file for others.

The system relies on a Distributed Hash Table (DHT) to locate file fragments across the network. Files are split into blocks, whose hashes are organized into a Merkle tree, allowing efficient verification of integrity during download.

Access can be encrypted and limited to specific wallet keys, for example using the TON Wallet. No cryptocurrency purchase or transaction is required to start using TON Storage.

How TON Storage works#

• File sharding – each uploaded file is divided into blocks and assembled into a Merkle tree.
• DHT lookup – a unique key derived from the file’s hash is stored in a decentralized hash table, which maps the key to nodes that hold the corresponding blocks.
• Storage nodes – any peer that downloads a file automatically becomes a storage node, contributing its bandwidth and storage to the swarm.
• Availability smart contract – a lightweight smart contract between the data owner and the storage node guarantees that the node retains the required amount of data, using proof‑of‑storage mechanisms.

Differences from traditional torrents#

• Blockchain integration – search, payment (if any), and proof‑of‑storage are handled on‑chain rather than through private trackers.
• Website hosting – static sites can be uploaded and served via TON Proxy and TON DNS, enabling “.ton” domains to resolve to content stored in TON Storage. (per [[the-open-network-ton]])
• Access control – uploads can be encrypted so that only holders of a specified wallet key can retrieve the data, providing “share with selected peers” functionality without separate accounts.
• Hybrid storage model – the original file remains on the user’s device; only indexes and proofs are published on the blockchain, avoiding a monolithic cloud.

Running a storage node#

To participate as a storage node you need three components:

• storage-daemon – background service that handles block sharding, storage, and peer exchange.
• storage-daemon-cli – command‑line tool for managing the daemon.
• tonutils-proxy – multithreaded client proxy through which applications interact with the storage layer.

Minimum hardware requirements

Running a node does not require a validator deposit and is accessible to anyone with a suitable VPS or personal machine. Motivation is typically technical (contributing to network resilience) or utilitarian (secure personal backups).

Current usage#

• NFTs on TON – NFT metadata and media files are often stored in TON Storage, referenced by a CID link, reducing on‑chain storage costs. (per [[getgems]])
• TON Sites – static websites under the .ton domain are hosted in TON Storage and served through TON Proxy.
• File sharing services – projects like Duck Storage provide user‑friendly interfaces on top of the storage daemon for everyday file sharing.

See also#

• The Open Network
• TON Proxy
• TON DNS
• NFT
• Smart Contracts