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.

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.

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.

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).

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 CoinMeta's in-depth [guide] on tokenomics.