[The Gateway](https://tongateway.org/), The Open Network’s inaugural in-person conference held in Dubai this November, was a key turning point for the TON Community. With over 500 enthusiasts, developers, investors, and thought leaders in attendance, the event demonstrated the community’s dedication to putting crypto in every pocket by building a Telegram Web3 SuperApp.

Over the past year, the TON Ecosystem has made remarkable progress. Highlights include the launch of the self-custodial TON Space within Wallet on Telegram, streamlining tApp onboarding, gaining priority access to Telegram Ads, setting a global TPS record, and maintaining network stability without any outages for two consecutive years. These efforts have translated into more than 20 successful professional audits and a 40-fold increase in accounts since November 2021.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Untitled_design_2_bd597ba45b/Untitled_design_2_bd597ba45b.png) 

This recap updates TON Community members on the latest announcements from The Gateway that showcase our ongoing success and demonstrate how TON is on track to onboard 500 million users within the next 3-5 years.

## **Community Announcements**
TON Community is the foundation of The Open Network, with blockchain development led by a decentralized, open-source team guided by a community-driven philosophy. During The Gateway conference, numerous announcements highlighting the community’s central role were made:

- **The Open League:** [Jack Booth](https://twitter.com/jbfxdotme), Head of Marketing at TON Foundation, has proposed launching [The Open League](http://ton.vote/EQCb8dxevgHhBnsTodJKXaCrafplHzAHf1V2Adj0GVlhA5xI/proposal/EQA5eyWDAAegbL5Ay1CfelGG3yY9Ow7bgpfocTV6KDt9zeIl). This initiative is a gamified incentive program where users earn tokens and experience points that can be exchanged for Toncoin. The program aims to onboard and engage Telegram users using community-led mini-apps and participatory governance.
- **TON Society:** The ecosystem’s new on-chain, decentralized social network, [TON Society](https://society.ton.org/), will be supported by The Open League’s incentive structure. It is integrated with Telegram through Wallet and uses transparent P2P transactions, providing users with digital identity, reputation, and ownership.
- **Community Incentives:** A new community incentives program specifically designed to secure long-term liquidity by offering more recycling options within the ecosystem. It will allocate $25 million in strategic funding to support critical protocols with a focus on emerging verticals, including SocialFi, DeFi, and GameFi.
- **APAC Initiative:** A new strategic direction for TON with a strong focus on the growing Asian market. This approach includes partnering with prominent local entities, including MEXC and Alibaba Cloud. The objective is to empower Asian Web3 developers to engage with global businesses through Telegram Mini Apps and TON Ecosystem solutions.
- **TON Gaming Alliance:** The official launch of the [TON Gaming Alliance](https://ton.org/gamefi), a program designed to revitalize Web3 gaming and make it mainstream using TON-Telegram infrastructure. This initiative will offer developers comprehensive support throughout all stages of game creation, including technical guidance and financial assistance, enabling them to optimize their games by leveraging Telegram.
- **Accelerator Program:** In collaboration with [Hashkey](https://twitter.com/hashkeygroup?lang=en), TON Foundation has unveiled a new Accelerator and Incubation Program aimed at helping entrepreneurs build strong on-chain businesses. This program will offer a range of support services, including mentorship, product and marketing guidance, community-building strategies, security auditing, and funding.
- **Kucoin Grant Program:** In collaboration with TON Foundation, KuCoin has announced the start of a grants program designed to help Web3 developer teams build products for the Telegram Web3 SuperApp.

## **Product Announcements**
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/4_Y5_A8751_53c4efacea/4_Y5_A8751_53c4efacea.jpg) 

A key priority for TON is to ensure that both the blockchain and the SuperApp provide practical use cases for Web2 users. This involves a dedicated focus on creating tangible products that meet user needs. At The Gateway, several important new product launches were unveiled: 

- **Wallet x Telegram:** [The Open Platform (TOP)](https://twitter.com/topdotco) announced the global rollout of Wallet and TON Space within the Telegram settings menu. This update will make Wallet available for all Telegram users, regardless of their previous registration with Wallet, and is set to achieve worldwide coverage by Q2 2024. This rollout positions Wallet as an essential tool for Web3 developers and will be accompanied by significant advancements in Wallet Pay and TON Connect technology.
- **TON Scan:** Gunnar Grimnes, CEO of [Bakken & Bæck](https://twitter.com/bakkenbaeck), officially announced the launch of [TON Scan](https://tonscan.org/), offering a comprehensive index of TON from its inception to the present. This tool allows users to explore transactions, jettons, and NFTs across the network.
- **TON Lending Protocol:** The launch of a new TON-collateralized lending product was announced by Issa Zhang, Investment Manager at [MEXC](https://twitter.com/MEXC_Official), that will allow users to borrow up to 300K USDT using $1M worth of TON as collateral.
- **TON Market Makers:** [Tal Kol](https://twitter.com/koltal) from [Orbs](https://twitter.com/orbs_network) announced a new initiative with [STON.fi](https://twitter.com/ston_fi) aimed at enhancing users' token-buying experience and transaction processes. This program intends to connect Telegram users with various TON projects and attract market makers from EVM platforms to the TON Ecosystem.
- **TON Diamonds:** Building on their record-setting achievements in NFT sales and volumes, [TON Diamonds](https://twitter.com/TonDiamonds) is focused on becoming the premier ecosystem NFT marketplace.

## **Development Announcements**
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Gh497_f39d7d3db9/Gh497_f39d7d3db9.jpg) 

At The Gateway, speakers highlighted TON Ecosystem’s unique appeal to Web3 developers, offering exclusive access to Telegram’s 800-million-user audience. Currently, the TON developer community on Telegram has over 11,000 members, with 180 active developers on GitHub and a portfolio of more than 230 active projects on the network. Significant announcements related to the development community included:

- **TON Stablecoin Toolkit:** A new suite for developing TON-based stablecoins.
- **Gasless Transactions:** A feature allowing users to execute transactions without incurring gas fees. 
- **Updated FunC & Tact Languages:** Enhanced versions of TON’s programming languages for improved smart contract development and execution.
- **TON Teleport:** A new cross-chain technology that eliminates intermediaries and private keys.
- **TON Bridge:** Upcoming expansions to TON Bridge that will include support for Jettons, Ether, and other new coins and networks.
- **TON Payments:** Instant and zero-fee microtransactions as a Layer 2 payment network.
- **TON Proxy:** A garlic routing technology designed to provide TON users with privacy while browsing the web.
- **TON Storage:** A full-fledged file storage service within the TON Ecosystem.
- **TON Browser:** A complete TON-based web browser scheduled for release in 2024.
- **TonTech Audit Program:** A professional smart contract audit service examining solution codes to ensure their security, functionality, and efficiency.
- **Bug Bounty Program:** An initiative offering rewards of up to $100,000 in Toncoin for identifying critical vulnerabilities in TON Blockchain’s code, main services, and smart contracts.
- **Telegram Ads Program:** A program offering funding to promising projects funding and access to Telegram's advertising services.

The Gateway represented a significant milestone for the TON Community, emphasizing its dedication to promoting crypto mass adoption and ensuring real digital ownership on TON Blockchain. 

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Gh256_e94d8d55ba/Gh256_e94d8d55ba.jpg) 

Looking ahead, our community’s objectives are straightforward: attract developers to the ecosystem with TON’s infrastructure and Telegram’s distribution network and continue building the Telegram Web3 SuperApp.



The Gateway Rewind

In a Web3 realm, The Open Network (TON) emerges as a fertile ground for innovators, developers, and dreamers united by a common quest: to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in the decentralized world. The heartbeat of this thriving ecosystem is our community, a collective force driving projects that reimagine how we interact with technology and each other. As the narrative of innovation unfolds, the spotlight often shines on the end products, leaving the remarkable journeys and the minds behind them in the shadows.

But no more.

Welcome to "TON Innovators," a fresh new content series dedicated to celebrating the human essence and ingenious minds driving the evolution of the TON Ecosystem. Through interviews with project visionaries, developers, and other members of the TON community, we delve into the stories, challenges, and motivations that fuel the continuous cycle of creation and growth within the TON Ecosystem. 

Each episode of "TON Innovators" offers a unique lens through which we explore the impact and vision of those building on TON. Our conversations aim to bridge the space between the technical and the personal, providing a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human element at the heart of TON's technological progress.

Let's get to the premiere interview of TON Innovators without any further ado. Today, we're exploring the [EVAA Protocol](https://evaa.finance/), the first decentralized lending protocol on TON that lets users lend or borrow assets without going to a centralized intermediary.

# **TON Innovators - EVAA Protocol**
*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice.*

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Firefox_Screenshot_2023_11_13_T15_25_07_890_Z_f04184fc6d/Firefox_Screenshot_2023_11_13_T15_25_07_890_Z_f04184fc6d.png) 

**Can you briefly explain EVAA protocol to us? What is your core product?**

The EVAA protocol is a pioneering decentralized lending platform on the TON blockchain. Our core product is a lending protocol that allows users to lend and borrow digital assets without the need for a central intermediary. It harnesses the power of smart contracts to offer secure, transparent, and accessible transactions.

The protocol is designed to work seamlessly within the TON ecosystem and offers an intuitive user experience through integration with Telegram Messenger.


**Please explain the idea behind decentralized lending. What does it mean, and what are the benefits?**

Decentralized lending is a concept where borrowing and lending of assets occur directly between parties without the involvement of traditional institutions. This approach leverages blockchain technology to create a trustless environment where smart contracts replace intermediaries.

The benefits are manifold: it ensures greater transparency, lower fees, faster transactions, and accessibility to a broader range of participants. This approach also expands the availability of various services to communities lacking traditional economic support, while diminishing the likelihood of censorship or domination by any single organization.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Screenshot_2023_11_13_at_16_25_15_Evaa_The_first_decentralized_lending_protocol_on_TON_856d17b61d/Screenshot_2023_11_13_at_16_25_15_Evaa_The_first_decentralized_lending_protocol_on_TON_856d17b61d.png) 

**Let’s talk about your team. Who are the founders, and what led you to create EVAA?**

The team behind [EVAA](https://evaa.finance/), comprising innovators and developers, recognized the need for a more flexible and transparent lending system in the DeFi space. Inspired by the capabilities of the TON blockchain, they set out to develop tools for more effective decentralized economic governance.

**Does your team have previous blockchain experience, or is this your first project?**

We have a solid foundation in blockchain technology and DeFi. The development of such a platform typically requires experience and a deep understanding of blockchain mechanics, security, and smart contract development.

**Out of curiosity, why the name EVAA?**

We like to say that we bring the opposite experience of AAVE. We bring the simplest and fastest experience in DeFi to Telegram. 

**Why should I choose EVAA and not one of its competitors?**

Choosing EVAA over competitors comes down to several key differentiators. First, our integration with the TON blockchain, known for its high-speed and eco-friendly transactions, allows for a more efficient and scalable DeFi experience.

Additionally, EVAA's user-centric design, which prioritizes simplicity and security, makes it accessible to both seasoned DeFi enthusiasts and newcomers. Moreover, our upcoming features, such as the release of our SDK, will enable even more innovative and flexible tools, keeping us at the cutting edge of DeFi.


**Now, let’s talk about TON. What led you to build on TON?**

TON's advanced blockchain technology offers unparalleled scalability and a user-friendly environment, which align perfectly with EVAA's mission to democratize economic empowerment for everyone. The network's capability to handle high transaction throughput means our users can enjoy a fast and smooth experience.

TON's commitment to sustainability and widespread adoption through Telegram also provide a solid foundation for reaching a broad and diverse user base.

**These days, it’s all about Telegram-integrated apps. Do you plan to integrate EVAA into Telegram?**

Absolutely, integration with Telegram is not just a plan—it's a cornerstone of our strategy. EVAA is designed to work hand in hand with Telegram through mini apps, which positions us at the forefront of user experience in the DeFi lending and borrowing sector. This integration allows users to manage their assets within the familiar interface of Telegram, simplifying the process and ensuring that the experience is smooth, accessible, and efficient.

We believe that by embedding EVAA within Telegram, we're not just following a trend; we're setting a new standard for convenience and user engagement in the DeFi world.


**Thank you for the interview. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? Any major plans, new products, or events?**

We're thrilled to share that EVAA is continually evolving. Our roadmap includes expanding multi-asset collateral options and enhancing our risk assessment algorithms to provide even safer lending options. Keep an eye out for our community events and upcoming platform updates.

We're dedicated to empowering our users with the most advanced tools in DeFi and are excited about what the future holds with EVAA and the TON.


TON Innovators - EVAA Protocol

Welcome to the TON Smart Challenge #4, a one-week contest open to both beginners and experienced FunC developers, featuring a total prize fund of 30,000 TON.  


<button href="https://t.me/toncontests_bot" passutmsource="true">
  Join the contest
</button >
<br/>


## **About the Contest**

The TON Smart Challenge #4 continues our tradition of offering tasks that showcase the fundamental aspects of how smart contracts function in TON. Participants will have the opportunity to master complex cell manipulations, smart contract storage organization, comment handling, basic cryptography, and the logic of governance smart contracts through problem-solving.

### Registration, Submission, and Duration
Registrations are now open. The tasks will go live on August 8, and the submission deadline is August 18 at 23:59:59 (UTC+4).

To enter the challenge, register via the [@toncontests_bot](https://t.me/toncontests_bot) on Telegram. The bot will assist you throughout the registration process and send you notifications with the latest updates, such as the contest start or the tasks. The bot will also guide you on submitting your entry as a legitimate participant.

**All entries must be submitted via GitHub, and your account must be at least a month old.**

For comprehensive instructions on submitting your entries, you can also refer to the official GitHub repository with the challenge tasks, which the bot will provide you on the first day of the contest.

### **Scoring System & Prize Distribution**

Winners of the contest will receive prizes denominated in Toncoin, the native cryptocurrency of the TON blockchain, which is also used as a resource for contract execution.

The scoring system is simple. **For each solved problem, the participant can earn a maximum of 6 points:** 

- Successful solution of the problem = 5 points
- If the solution is solved with no gas spent = 1 extra point

#### Prizes: 
1. 10,000 TON - The top 15% of participants
2. 10,000 TON - The middle 30% of participants
3. 10,000 TON - The bottom 55% of participants 

The pool of 10,000 TON will be split equally between all participants in the corresponding cohorts. In total, we will award 30,000 TON.*

*Please note that the total prize may vary depending on the number of participants.

<button href="https://t.me/toncontests_bot" passutmsource="true">
  Register Now!
</button >

TON Smart Challenge #4: Join to Win a share of 30,000 TON! 

On 31 October, the TON Blockchain set the world record as the fastest and most scalable blockchain. Thanks to its unique architecture allowing infinite scaling to process millions of transactions per second from billions of users, TON sets the standard for the ultimate Web3 infrastructure. 

## **Public Test**
During the [livestream](https://www.youtube.com/live/jWWl1sLGY7s?feature=share) hosted by the TON Foundation and [audited by Certik](https://www.certik.com/resources/blog/7KVtBkHfJkcj0U6u0kKtPe-how-certik-verified-tons-tps-results), **the TON Blockchain set a world record by achieving  104,715 transactions per second.**

This is an astonishing result for any blockchain, but what’s even more exceptional is the fact that this performance significantly outperforms even the most used centralized payment systems:

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Toncoin_copy_93ef07bbf4/Toncoin_copy_93ef07bbf4.png) <center>*Figures for 2022*</center>


For a comparison, let’s look at the top 25 blockchains from [CoinMarketCap](https://coinmarketcap.com/coins/):

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Confirmed_TPS_1_a00f47e8f7/Confirmed_TPS_1_a00f47e8f7.png) 

As you can see, TON outperforms both well-known blockchains and bank payment networks by a margin and, in most cases, by dozens of times.

## **Overview of the Test**
For the test, TON rented 256 servers from Alibaba Cloud for validator nodes and launched a separate TON Blockchain network. 

Next, we created a special "bomb" smart contract that clones itself and continuously transmits transactions so that the load on the network grows exponentially.

The test had to be performed on a separate test network, as such a “bomb” would result in spending astronomical money to pay network fees. On the test network, this method creates massive amounts of transactions, as if millions of users were sending them.


We detonated the "bomb" for 10 minutes, resulting in intense load growth, and the network split into shardchains. Finally, the network split into 512 shards and processed 90-110K transactions per second. The network maintained this load for a while until we manually shut it down.

The entire test was conducted publicly in real-time by TON's core team, overseen by independent auditor Certik, and documented in detail. All technical details and test results can be found [here](https://live.ton.org).

## **How TON Achieves This Scalability and Speed**
Special blockchain nodes called validators process user transactions, such as sending coins from one user to another or exchanging assets on a decentralized exchange. These nodes are the core building blocks of the TON Blockchain. 

The efficiency of the TON Blockchain lies in the fact that as the number of users or load grows, it can split into "sub-blockchains," called shardchains. Each shardchain is operated by its own group of validators, distributing the load. When the load decreases, the shardchains "collapse" back together.

In technical language, this is called "dynamic sharding." Few modern blockchains can boast such an architecture, and TON is a leader among them.

## **No Limits**
The most impressive thing is that the result is far from the limit. TON can handle millions of transactions per second if there are enough validator nodes in the network.

While preparing for today's test, we encountered that no cloud provider or data center is interested in renting out thousands of productive servers for the short time required for the test. We will try to solve this administrative challenge to show you the following tests with even more grandiose results.

In a real-world network, servers for validator nodes are rented for long periods by independent operators in different data centers. Part of the network commission from each transaction goes to validators as a reward for keeping the network running. If there is a heavy load and a large number of transactions, the total reward will increase accordingly, stimulating organic growth in the number of new validators.


## **TON vs. Solana**
The previous title holder of the fastest blockchain was Solana. Let's compare TON and Solana separately.

In addition to the fact that TON beats Solana's confirmed result in absolute numbers by a margin, there are qualitative differences that show that TON is the next-generation blockchain.

- As described above, the TON blockchain uses dynamic sharding. The main advantage of this approach is that the blockchain can scale almost infinitely by adding new validator nodes. In contrast, monolithic blockchains such as Solana have their physical limit, after which it’s impossible to scale further.

- [In a separate post](https://ton.org/comparison_of_blockchains.pdf), we provide three historical examples that prove that vertical scaling has always been a technological dead end, replaced by horizontal scaling or sharding.

- TON allows fast processing of not only simple transactions such as transferring coins between users but also fast execution of Turing-complete smart contracts. This means complex decentralized exchanges, marketplaces, or other decentralized applications do not slow down the blockchain. That’s why we used the complex smart contract in this public test. 

   While Solana's blockchain is optimized for the swift execution of specialized and predefined transactions, the performance dramatically decreases when executing arbitrary transactions.

## **Comparing Blockchain Speeds**
### **Time-to-finality**
When users interact with the blockchain, they create transactions, which are grouped into blocks, and the blocks are added to the blockchain. In many blockchains, a block can still change after it has been added, so you need to wait a while to be assured that the payment has gone through.

This is called Time-to-finality. In Bitcoin, it is about 60 minutes, and in Ethereum, it is about 13 minutes.

This indicator must be considered because it is important not only to send a transaction but also to ensure it is successfully and irreversibly completed. For example, the seller is unlikely to give you the goods until he is absolutely sure that he has received the payment.

The good news is that in TON, once a block is written to the blockchain, it is final and cannot be changed. Currently, on the main network, blocks are created approximately every 4-6 seconds, so the time-to-finality of TON is 6 seconds. 

### **Transactions**
When comparing metrics, we should ensure that all blockchains adhere to the same meaning of terms.

We use the common meaning of "transaction" - some atomic action, such as a balance change or the execution of a smart contract, the result of which is recorded to the block.

It is worth noting that some blockchains understand something different under this term. As an example, the SUI blockchain shows hundreds of thousands of "transactions," but it refers to transactions as operations, and a single atomic write to a block can contain dozens of such operations. At one operation per write, the speed in SUI drops to 10K TPS.

### **Layer 1 and Layer 2**
Full-fledged blockchains are called Layer 1 or L1 networks. These blockchains include, for example, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and TON.

Some projects supercharge and enhance blockchains - called Layer 2 or L2, respectively. This approach has both pros and cons. Given that these solutions are not decentralized blockchains, it is easy for them to achieve greater speed and performance at the cost of decentralization or functionality. An example of an L2 blockchain that offers better performance but significantly reduces functionality is Bitcoin’s Lightning Network.

While TON, being Layer 1, outperforms most Layer 2 solutions in speed and performance, we are also working on our own Layer 2 solution, the TON Payment Network.

This solution will enable instant micropayments without network fees, which could be useful for several applications. The first stage of work, [the payment channel technology](https://telegra.ph/TON-Payments-07-01), has already been completed, and you can explore our future plans in the [roadmap](https://ton.org/roadmap?filterBy=ton_payment).

## **Space for Optimization**
While working on the test, we discovered that TON can scale further not only by adding validator nodes but also by optimizing the node itself.

We already performed such optimization - splitting the validator into two nodes - a collator and a validator. This kernel update, “[Accelerator](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/ton/tree/accelerator),” will be released on the mainnet after thorough testing. We have also planned other optimization and parallelization that can make the performance of the node even better.

## **Conclusion**
The goal of the TON project is to achieve mass adoption of cryptocurrencies and decentralized technologies. We are systematically moving towards this goal - a vivid example is the [recently announced joint initiative of TON with Telegram](https://t.me/tonblockchain/213), a messenger with 800 million monthly active users.

With today's public test, we have confirmed that TON is technically ahead of all other existing blockchain projects and is ready for mass adoption.



### **References**

- Visa, [Annual Report For SEC](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1403161/000140316122000081/v-20220930.htm), September 30, 2022. According to this document, Visa processed 192,530 million transactions in 2022. Thus average TPS is 6,105 (192530e6 / 365 / 24 / 60 / 60). Maximum TPS is 65,000 according to [Visa's Fact Sheet](https://www.visa.co.uk/dam/VCOM/download/corporate/media/visanet-technology/aboutvisafactsheet.pdf).

- MasterCard, [Cointelegraph's Network Comparison](https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-lightning-network-vs-visa-and-mastercard-how-do-they-stack-up) stated maximum TPS at 5,000

- PayPal, [Annual Report For SEC](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1633917/000163391723000033/pypl-20221231.htm), December 31, 2022. According to this document, PayPal processed 22.3 billion transactions in 2022. Thus the average TPS is 707 (22.3e9 / 365 / 24 / 60 / 60).

- Ethereum and Bitcoin TPS are sourced from [Binance Academy](https://academy.binance.com/en/glossary/transactions-per-second-tps)

- For Solana, we exclude the “test in an ideal laboratory environment,” and look at [the test results on the testnet](https://solana.blog/seriously-how-fast-can-solana-blockchain-get/).


- [SUI states](https://blog.sui.io/sui-performance-update/), “The TPS capacity measurement most consistent with Sui’s design, least application-dependent, and most practical to track, is the number of individual transactions within a Programmable Transaction Block executed per second. For this and future updates, all mentions and measurements of TPS follow this convention.” Tests show 10,871 TPS if PTB contains 1 transaction.

- [Ethereum Time-to-Finality](https://ethereum.org/fil/roadmap/single-slot-finality/#:~:text=It%20takes%20about%2015%20minutes,finalized%20in%20the%20same%20slot)
- [Bitcoin Time-to-Finality](https://academy.binance.com/en/glossary/finality)

100,000 Transactions Per Second - TON Sets The World Record On Its First Performance Test

Blockchain development on TON is more than just smart contracts in FunC and [Tact](https://blog.ton.org/why-tact-is-ton-s-next-big-breakthrough). TON developers rely on many libraries and diverse dev tools to compile and test their smart contracts whenever they want to build anything, from dApp frontends to bots.

These libraries and tools are implemented in various languages, from TypeScript/JavaScript to Python. Each language usually has a library distribution channel like [NPM](https://npmjs.com).

## Who maintains the libraries?

TON is a decentralized ecosystem; many significant contributions originate outside the core team. This has many advantages, like exponential growth and a fast pace of innovation, but it does come with a few challenges.

Libraries often originate from one of the businesses active in the TON Ecosystem. Let's take [Jetton Minter](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/minter) as an example - this tool was initially created by [Orbs](https://orbs.com). The project that invents a library usually maintains and owns it. Even if somebody in the community wants to propose a [PR](https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/proposing-changes-to-your-work-with-pull-requests/creating-a-pull-request), it's up to the owning project to decide whether to accept it or not.

But what happens when one of these libraries becomes popular and other projects rely on it? This turns the library into some sort of shared infrastructure. Who should maintain it in this case?

## The problem with single ownership of shared libraries

Let's consider the example of Orbs to examine the issues that arise when libraries are developed in private repositories or repositories of individual companies within the TON Ecosystem.

In the first days of [Jetton Minter](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/minter), the tool was hosted on an Orbs-owned repo and served from an Orbs-owned [domain](https://jetton.live/). The tool isn't really a core part of Orbs' business model. Orbs doesn't earn any money from it. It was created for the benefit of the community.

It works perfectly fine, so why not leave it under single ownership in the hands of Orbs?

Well, there are a few concerns:

- Orbs is developing other products that are core to its business model. Their core business activities will always be prioritized over something unprofitable or not at the core. What happens if they become too busy to maintain this tool properly?
    
- What happens if Orbs decides to use the popularity of this tool to benefit their business interests? For example, by introducing a Jetton listing fee.
    
- What happens if they fail to recognize a security vulnerability in this tool since they focus on other things? This will create a domino effect of vulnerabilities in all the other projects that depend on it.

## The beauty of the open-source model

The open-source model gives simple answers to the above questions. The tool is only popular as long as its users find it beneficial. Many projects will depend on this tool only as long as there's a clear benefit from using it.

Shared libraries should always be published under a permissive open-source license like [MIT](https://opensource.org/license/mit). This provides a strong guarantee to the library's userbase that this library will never be abused. A permissive open-source license eliminates lock-in. If the library's maintainer fails its userbase, somebody will [fork](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/quickstart/fork-a-repo) the library and create a better version.

The open-source model keeps libraries honest.

## Surrendering shared libraries to shared ownership

Once a library or a tool becomes a popular shared dependency of many projects, it should transition away from single ownership. It is never in the community's best interest to keep relying on tools that are controlled by a single entity. This single point of failure comes with a high level of risk. You only need one malicious actor to cause major damage to a large part of the ecosystem.

### The challenge with NPM
When you publish a TypeScript/JavaScript library for import by other developers, you normally publish it to [NPM](https://npmjs.com). The problem with NPM is that it doesn't follow the open-source no lock-in model. NPM packages have a well-known name that people import. This name, similar to a domain name, cannot be forked.

NPM names are given for free on a first-come, first-serve basis. This means that they're very prone to squatting. Names we could use are often registered, even if they're unused or abandoned. This also brings up a series of potential security issues. Is the NPM library [ton-crypto](https://www.npmjs.com/package/ton-crypto) official or not? Can you use it safely with your secret mnemonic? There's no way to know. 

## A stable home for shared TON libraries
To make the TON Ecosystem safer and more stable for developers, we have been looking for a home for popular shared libraries that can be transitioned to shared ownership.

The main requirement is that this place cannot be owned by a single company or person. It must operate under a code of conduct where a group of well-known contributors trusted by the TON Community makes decisions together for the benefit of the ecosystem. Whenever unresolved disputes arise, the TON Foundation should be invited to help resolve the issue to satisfy the included parties.

This home is for peripheral libraries and tools. Many of those are not maintained by the core team, so this home should be able to give `write access` to external contributors. Nevertheless, representatives from the core team will have admin privileges.

**To achieve this, we created a new [GitHub organization](https://github.com/ton-org) labeled after the primary `ton.org` domain.**

We've intentionally chosen a destination outside the [ton-blockchain](https://github.com/ton-blockchain) GitHub organization since the latter is reserved for the core node infrastructure and protocol and is primarily maintained by the core team and not external contributors from the community. We've also chosen a destination different from the [ton-community](https://github.com/ton-community) GitHub organization so it can focus on a smaller and more official list of core libraries, whereas the community is open for almost anything.
  
Additionally, we finally acquired the[ `@ton` NPM organization](https://www.npmjs.com/org/ton)!
  
TON is now on par with other prominent blockchain ecosystems, like Solana, that list all of the official core libraries under one namespace.
  
Using an NPM organization gives us complete control of all names under this namespace. This resolves many of the challenges we had with NPM. Since all sub-names are ours, and users can easily identify safe official libraries, squatting is impossible under this namespace.
  
## Migration

Many popular JavaScript/TypeScript libraries in the TON Ecosystem, like `ton`, `ton-core`, `blueprint`, and `ton-crypto`, were developed by different teams, such as [TonWhales](https://tonwhales.com), [Orbs](https://www.orbs.com/), and [Ton Tech](https://ton.tech/), and maintained by them - credit given where credit is due. But now, those libraries have successfully transitioned to shared ownership where multiple contributors from multiple entities can collaborate.

- The shared ownership version of main JS/TS libraries are hosted on [`ton-org` GitHub](https://github.com/ton-org)
- The shared ownership versions of those packages are published on NPM under the `@ton` organization

**We urge all developers to transition to the new NPM packages, as the old ones will soon cease to be supported and be marked as deprecated.**

In the spirit of decentralization, we call on teams to support this transition of popular shared libraries to shared ownership and move the original repositories to avoid unnecessary forks.


Happy coding!

**Special thanks to [Tal Kol](https://github.com/talkol) for his help with the article and migration.**

Creating a Stable Home for TON Libraries

[According to Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/793628/worldwide-developer-survey-most-used-languages/), Python is the 3rd most popular programming language in the world, with over 49% of developers in 2023 using Python. With this in mind, and knowing our goal of building the world’s most used blockchain ecosystem, we can not afford to overlook Python’s importance and potential in building The Open Network (TON). 

Although the [Tact programming language lies at the core of TON](https://blog.ton.org/why-tact-is-ton-s-next-big-breakthrough), our community continuously develops new Python libraries to allow Python developers to contribute to the growth of the TON Ecosystem. 

In this article, we’ll share the most popular Python libraries you can leverage on TON. Please note that some of these libraries are still being developed by their authors but regardless provide a vault of precious information, while others might be abandoned. 

Before you start, we recommend reading our [article on setting up a development environment on TON](https://blog.ton.org/setting-up-a-ton-development-environment). 

## Python Libraries for The Open Network
We will not list out the libraries in any particular order of how they should be used, so feel free to scroll through to find what you’re looking for. 

### ADNL Transport
Abstract Datagram Network Layer (ADNL) is the cornerstone of TON. This decentralized network protocol built atop UDP in the current IPv4 framework, set to transition to IPv6 in the future, facilitates swift and lightweight data transfers. You have an option to switch to the more reliable TCP if UDP becomes inaccessible. ADNL prioritizes speed and direct peer interactions over guaranteed delivery. You can find more info in the ADNL Protocol documentation

- **[Pythoniq by Yungwine](https://github.com/yungwine/pytoniq)** – A Python SDK for the TON Blockchain that extends [pytoniq-core](https://github.com/yungwine/pytoniq-core) with native LiteClient and ADNL over UDP, DHT, and RLDP (in the future). It is considered by many as the flagship Python library for TON.

- **[mytonlib by Igroman787](https://github.com/igroman787/mytonlib)** – Another excellent native library for working with The Open Network without using libtonlibjson.so. As it is a native library, the speed is slightly throttled. This library was written based on the TON Deep by xssnick. 

### TonLib Wrapper
TonLib Wrapper is a library that allows you to interact with TON directly via the ADNL protocol without using any HTTP API. It is based on tonlibjson, which is a JSON interface to tonlib, a library that implements TON’s lite client functionality. 

There are different TonLib Wrappers for different programming languages, such as Python, .NET, and JavaScript.

- **[PyTONLib](https://github.com/toncenter/pytonlib)** – This is a standalone Python library based on libtonlibjson. The functionality is similar to the ton-http-api, but with a few restrictions - a client can connect to only one LiteServer; a client is asynchronous; no requests cache.

### HTTP API or TonLib Wrapper (both supported)
The following libraries can be used with both TonLib Wrapper or directly with HTTP API; whichever you prefer. 

- **[TonTools by Yungwine](https://github.com/yungwine/TonTools)** – A high-level OOP library for Python that offers a ton of functionality, such as scanning custom contracts and running get methods, creating, deploying and scanning wallets, NFT collections scanning, scanning of Jettons and Jetton wallets, transaction scanning in raw and user-friendly forms, and much more. 

- **[TONsdk by sasha1618 (tonfactory), Yungwine, Psylopunk](https://github.com/tonfactory/tonsdk)**– This low-level library contains a lot of useful information, but the code is unfinished and messy. Unfortunately, this library seems to be no longer under development, and it is now abandoned. 

### TON C++ Wrapper

- **[Tonpy by Disintar](https://github.com/disintar/tonpy)** – A Python package that provides data structures and API to interact with TON. Tonpy is separated into two packages: [C++ bindings](https://github.com/disintar/ton/tree/master/tvm-python) and the [main package](https://github.com/disintar/tonpy) that takes pre-built binaries compiled by workflow and creates a complete Python package with some Python code on top of C++ bindings.

### TON Connect
TON Connect is a communication protocol between wallets and apps in the TON ecosystem. Wallets do not need to build walled-garden ecosystems themselves, while the apps do not need to take the risk of holding end users’ accounts. TON Connect aims to offer a seamless user experience between the wallets and the apps. Read our recent article, [TON Connect – The Future Without Passwords](https://blog.ton.org/ton-connect-the-future-without-passwords), to better understand the concept and its benefits. [Click here](https://github.com/ton-connect) for the TON Connect Github repo. 

- **[PyTon Connect by XaBbl4](https://github.com/XaBbl4/pytonconnect)** – A Python SDK for TON Connect 2.0. This library is the analog of the [@tonconnect/sdk library](https://github.com/ton-connect/sdk/tree/main/packages/sdk), and you can use it to connect your app to TON wallets via the TON Connect protocol. You can find more details and the protocol specification in the [docs](https://github.com/ton-connect/docs).

- **[TON Connect for Python by ClickoTON Foundation](https://github.com/ClickoTON-Foundation/tonconnect)** – Another library for connecting TON Connect to Python apps. The library contains 34 commits and seems to be under active development, with the last activity just over two weeks ago. 

### Developments for TON on Python
Here, you can find a few more handy tools to help you with Python on TON. 

- **[TON Indexer](https://github.com/toncenter/ton-indexer)** - Helps you store blocks, transactions, and messages in the Postgres database and provides a convenient API.

- **[MyTonCtrl](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/mytonctrl)** – A console application that is a convenient wrapper for fift, lite-client, and validator-engine-console. It has been specifically developed to streamline wallet, domain, and validator management tasks on the Linux operating system.

- **[HTTP API for The Open Network](https://github.com/toncenter/ton-http-api)** – Since TON nodes use their own ADNL binary transport protocol, an intermediate service is needed for an HTTP connection. TON HTTP API is such an intermediate service; receiving requests via HTTP, it accesses the lite servers of the TON network using tonlibjson. You can use the ready-made [toncenter.com](https://toncenter.com/) service or start your own instance.

### Deprecated Libraries
While we do not recommend using these libraries as they’re now obsolete and abandoned, you can still search through them to see if there is any valuable information. 

- **[TVM Value Types](https://github.com/toncenter/tvm_valuetypes)** – Now replaced by Pythoniq, this library works with basic primitives of TON (Cell, HashMap). The library is a collection of utilities that work with seven value types of TON virtual machine - Integer, Cell, Tuple, Null, Slice, Builder, and Continuation.

- **[Pytonlib by Psylopunk](https://github.com/psylopunk/pytonlib)** - Now completely abandoned, this library allows you to work with the TON API from Python. It offers a range of functionalities such as creating and importing wallets, getting wallet balances and transactions, transferring coins, executing methods of smart contracts, and transferring NFTs.

### Others
Last but not least, a library that doesn’t fit any of the above-mentioned categories but still packs a collection of useful features. 

- **[Rift ](https://github.com/sky-ring/rift)**– A full-stack development framework for TON that makes it easy for developers to use Python to develop, test, and deploy smart contracts on TON. With Rift, you can leverage the simplicity and versatility of Python to build and interact with TON without having to learn the complexities of FunC or Fift. For examples of how Rift simplifies these processes, [visit Rift's website](https://rift.skyring.io/).



Essential Libraries and Tools for Python on TON

Blockchain technology has been a game-changer in the digital world, and [The Open Network (TON) has now set a new world record for the fastest blockchain](https://blog.ton.org/speed-of-tomorrow-ton-is-the-worlds-fastest-blockchain) with a speed of 104,715 transactions per second. We set this record during our live stream on October 31, which you can now [rewatch on our YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/live/jWWl1sLGY7s?si=gv40MCJWPJo57APc). 

This record-breaking achievement allows us to explore new opportunities where TON's speed could revolutionize various sectors. It’s no secret that the main challenge of Web3 is to provide real-world use cases and bridge the worlds of Web3 and Web2. With [TON](https://ton.org/) Blockchain technology, we have the infrastructure to do just that. 

In this article, we’ll explore six real-world use cases that showcase the transformative potential of the world's fastest blockchain.

## **SuperApp**
Imagine a single platform that hosts countless services — from instant messaging and social networking to decentralized finance (DeFi) and e-commerce. All are powered by TON's infinitely scalable blockchain infrastructure. The SuperApp would be the ultimate portal to Web3, enabling hundreds of millions of users to perform billions of transactions, all in a user-friendly and seamless Telegram environment. 

[TON’s architecture](https://blog.ton.org/the-architecture-behind-the-open-network) could support an entire digital economy, providing a seamless user experience akin to popular Web2 applications but with the added benefits of decentralization, actual digital ownership, and censorship resistance. 

## **Gaming**
The gaming industry can benefit from TON's speed to build in-game economies that rival the real world. Thanks to TON’s unique architecture, game developers can deploy their own customized workchains with minimum or no fees and allow their players to experience smooth gameplay without overloading other TON workchains. 

TON's capabilities allow developers to create more complex game designs and economic models, which can transform the gaming experience. 

## **Payment Infrastructure**
With TON, individuals and businesses can execute financial transactions globally with the assurance of speed and reduced costs. TON could redefine remittances, payroll processing, and e-commerce, ensuring that transactions, regardless of size, are completed in a fraction of the time and minimum fees taken by traditional financial systems. 

The speed and scalability of TON can promote financial inclusivity by enabling microtransactions for the unbanked population, thus democratizing access to the digital economy.

## **Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs) & DeFi**
TON's transaction speed can kickstart a revolution in decentralized trading. High-frequency trading, a domain limited primarily to centralized exchanges due to technical constraints, can now thrive in a decentralized environment. 

This capability can significantly reduce slippage and ensure market stability, fostering an equitable trading environment that is accessible to all.

## **Supply Chain Management**
Developers can leverage TON’s infrastructure to create transparent and efficient supply chains. By enabling real-time tracking and immediate settlement of transactions, TON can reduce operational costs, prevent fraud, and ensure the authenticity of products. 

This use case is particularly relevant for industries that rely on complex logistics, such as pharmaceuticals, where tracking the route of goods is crucial.

## **IoT Networks**
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network where billions of devices communicate and transact autonomously. TON's immense transaction speed makes it the best candidate for managing these networks, allowing machine-to-machine communications to operate smoothly and reliably. 

This can lead to smarter cities, more responsive and stable energy grids, and a new level of interaction between digital services and the physical world.



# **TON's Blueprint for Web3**
TON’s groundbreaking transaction speed is not just an impressive technical achievement; it represents a leap towards a future where blockchain is a core component of our everyday digital lives. 

The use cases outlined above only scratch the surface of TON's possibilities, and there will be dozens of new use cases, some of them not even discovered yet. 

TON's commitment to growth, innovation, and community will remain the driving force behind its evolution. TON is well-positioned to lead widespread blockchain adoption. The potential of TON to unite not just blockchains but also Web2 into a cohesive, decentralized ecosystem is now closer than ever.

In conclusion, TON stands at the forefront of blockchain innovation, breaking barriers and setting new standards. Its proven capability to process transactions at the speed of light paves the way for a future where blockchain technology is not just a niche interest but a cornerstone of the global digital infrastructure. As we continue to build on this momentum, we eagerly anticipate the TON Community to explore new ways in which TON will shape the digital landscape of tomorrow.


Six Use Cases for the World's Fastest Blockchain: Exploring TON's Potential

In the recently announced [TFxTelegram initiative](https://blog.ton.org/building-a-web3-ecosystem-in-telegram-with-toncoin), we described the vision of building the TON Ecosystem into a SuperApp, where you can interact with hundreds of projects on a single platform. There are multiple checkboxes to tick before this happens, and technical feasibility is one of the major ones. 

It's no easy task to build a blockchain ecosystem that supports millions, if not hundreds of millions, of users and provides a seamless and affordable experience. We believe that to this day, no blockchain can provide infrastructure on this scale except The Open Network. 

One of the core features of [The Open Network](https://ton.org/) is its ability for high scalability and throughput. TON achieves this by dynamic sharding the blockchain into multiple shards or shardchains, each of which can process transactions independently and in parallel. Sharding splits the blockchain state into smaller pieces so that each set of nodes only needs to store and validate a subset of the data. 

Technically speaking, this should allow TON to scale up infinitely and handle millions of transactions per second from billions of users without sacrificing speed, security, or decentralization. 

We understand that dozens of blockchains have made similar claims over the past years, but at TON Foundation, we believe every claim must be backed by concrete evidence. 

To understand how TON can achieve such high transaction speed at a fraction of competitors' network fees, one must understand its architecture. 

## **Architecture at a Glance**
The TON Blockchain consists of one masterchain and up to 2^32 workchains. Each workchain is a separate chain with its rules. Each workchain can further split into 2^60 shardchains, or sub-shards, containing a fraction of the workchain's state. Currently, only one workchain is operating on TON - basechain. 

> Each workchain can split into one quintillion, one hundred fifty-two quadrillion, nine hundred twenty-one trillion, five hundred four billion, six hundred six million, eight hundred forty-six thousand, nine hundred seventy-six shardchains.

This means that TON is not just a single blockchain but a blockchain of blockchains. It allows for the operation of multiple workchains, each potentially having its own rules and token economics yet still interoperable.

You can visualize this as a hierarchical, sharded blockchain ecosystem where the masterchain sits at the top of the hierarchy, sharding into workchains, then sharding into shardchains. 

### **Masterchain**
The Masterchain is the primary chain that stores the network configuration and the final state of all workchains. You can understand this as the masterchain being the core directory, a single source of truth for all the shards in the ecosystem. 

It carries fundamental protocol information, including current settings, a list of active validators and their stakes, active workchains, and associated shardchains. Most importantly, it maintains a record of the latest block hashes for all workchains and shardchains, enforcing consensus across the network. 

### **Workchain**
The Masterchain splits into individual chains called Workchains. Workchains are customized blockchains tailored to certain transactions or use cases, running parallel within the TON network. 

For example, a blockchain game that requires thousands of transactions can run on its own workchain and transaction fees without competing for resources with other projects. They can have their own rules, consensus mechanisms, and tokenomics, but they all sync up with the Masterchain for validation and interoperability. The decentralization of work across multiple workchains allows for better scalability and higher transaction speeds. 

Given TON's heterogeneous nature—which allows multiple, distinct blockchains to function within a unified ecosystem and interact— unique cross-chain solutions are possible. All workchains must agree on fundamental interoperability standards to support inter-workchain interactions.

### **Shardchain**
Sharchains are sub-chains of workchains, identified by a 60-bit shard prefix, which indicates accounts (addresses) that belong to a specific shardchain. For example, a shard prefix of 01 *means that the shardchain contains all accounts whose addresses start with 01*. When a transaction needs to be processed, the network can quickly determine which shardchain should handle it by looking at the first 60 bits of the account address and matching it with the appropriate shard prefix. 

Thanks to the 60-bit prefix, many shardchains can coexist within a single workchain, allowing for extensive scalability.

The length of 60 bits allows [TON](https://ton.org/) to have a wide range of shard prefixes, making it possible to split or merge shardchains dynamically to balance the workload. When a shardchain becomes too large or too small, it can be split or merged with another shardchain to ensure that each shardchain has an appropriate size.

### **Sharding**
Dynamic sharding is TON's key feature that enables high scalability. As described above, the ability to shard into individual workchains and shardchains allows TON to "distribute" transactions, effectively removing the bottleneck of processing transactions on a single blockchain. 

Every shardchain periodically communicates its state to the Masterchain, keeping an index of all shards and their state. Shardchains can also communicate with each other via Hypercube routing, ensuring that transactions can occur across the entire ecosystem.

Integrating sharded architecture with Masterchain, Workchains, and Shardchains creates a highly scalable, decentralized, and flexible blockchain ecosystem, allowing TON to support many use cases and extremely high transaction volumes.

### **Validators**
Validators participate in the network by providing computing power and staked Toncoin to maintain its integrity, security, and continued operation - their servers are responsible for validating new blocks and confirming transactions on the blockchain.

Unlike traditional centralized networks, where a single entity has unlimited control, TON relies on a decentralized PoS mechanism to agree on the state of the blockchain. In this consensus, validators must "stake" or lock up a certain number of Toncoin. This staking serves as both an eligibility criterion for validators and a form of security for the network.

The role of a validator is not fixed but continually updates in a  process that considers various factors, such as the size of their stake, the uptime and performance of their servers, and their behavior. The validator set is also periodically reshuffled to prevent collusion or malicious activity, ensuring the network remains resilient to various attacks.

Moreover, validators serve not just a single shard or workchain; their operations are integral to the entire ecosystem, from the Masterchain down to individual shardchains. They're involved in processing transactions, executing smart contracts, and even playing a part in TON's cross-chain interoperability features and governance.

By performing these roles, validators make TON a secure, scalable, and efficient blockchain network capable of supporting various applications and services. The staking and consensus mechanisms ensure that validators have skin in the game, keeping them interested in TON's long-term success and security.

## **Moving Forward**
The architecture of The Open Network exemplifies foresight. Scalability and transaction speed issues plaguing many blockchain networks find solutions on TON. Its multi-faceted structure, from masterchain to shardchains, optimizes efficiency, scalability, and security.

TON is not only built to solve the problems of the present. TON Foundation is pushing The Open Network to its limits, challenging it with innovations that might only be meant for years into the future on other Layer-1 blockchains. Today, The Open Network is on the verge of setting a new benchmark in blockchain performance. 

At this article's release, TON Foundation is preparing for a public performance test that might set a new world record.[ We invite the community and enthusiasts to join us in this thrilling journey as we strive to enhance and expand the TON ecosystem.](https://live.ton.org/) With robust architecture as TON's backbone, the future of our ecosystem is bound to see unprecedented advancements and exciting partnerships for a long time to come.



The Architecture Behind The Open Network

## Introduction
In the evolving landscape of finance and cryptocurrencies, how we store, manage, and access our assets has become highly important. At the heart of this debate lies the distinction between custodial and non-custodial wallets. While both models offer unique advantages, they also come with challenges, which can influence security, management, and your experience using these solutions. 

This article delves deep into these two paradigms, untangling their definitions, the pros and cons of each, and their usability in various scenarios. 

Whether you're a seasoned investor, a crypto newcomer, or simply curious, understanding the differences between custodial and non-custodial systems can empower you to make more informed choices in an increasingly digitized world.

## Definition of Custodial and Non-Custodial Wallets
### Custodial
A custodial solution in cryptocurrencies refers to a wallet or service where a third party, typically a financial institution or an exchange, holds and manages your private keys.

With custodial wallets and services, you transfer your cryptocurrencies to an address provided by the custody provider. The platform then assumes responsibility for your assets' safekeeping, management, and security.

The best examples of custodial services are well-known centralized exchanges we all use, like Coinbase or Binance. When you deposit your crypto into your exchange account, the exchange holds the funds for you, making it a custodial solution. You don't have direct access to their private keys in such platforms; instead, they rely on the platform's security measures and infrastructure. This can be compared to the regular banks as we know them. Once you deposit your funds into a bank, they're no longer under your full control.

### Non-custodial
If you've been in crypto for some time, you've definitely heard the phrase, *"Not your keys, not your coins."* With non-custodial wallets and services, you own your private keys and, by extension, your crypto assets. The responsibility of asset security, safekeeping, and management lies entirely on your shoulders.

With non-custodial services, you typically store your assets in wallets with exclusive access to your private keys and assets. These wallets allow you, and no one else, to send, receive, and manage your cryptocurrencies without intermediaries or third-party platforms.

Examples of non-custodial services are hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor or software wallets like [Tonkeeper ](https://tonkeeper.com/)and Trust Wallet. When you store your cryptocurrency in one of these wallets, you maintain full control over your private keys and, thus, your assets. No third party can move or manage your funds without direct authorization (i.e., using your private key).

## Pros and Cons
Now that you understand the concept of custodial vs. non-custodial services let's look at the pros and cons of these two options to understand better which solution is the right one for you. 

### Custodial
#### Pros:

- **Security:** Centralized custodial platforms often invest heavily in security infrastructure to protect vast amounts of assets. For many users, especially those not tech-savvy, this can provide a higher level of security than they might achieve on their own.

- **Ease of Use:** For newcomers to the cryptocurrency space, custodial solutions often provide a more intuitive interface and user experience. These platforms handle complex processes behind the scenes, offering users simplicity in trading, withdrawing, and depositing.

- **Customer Support:** With custodial services, you typically have access to customer support teams that can assist with issues ranging from lost passwords to transaction issues.

- **Frequent Updates and Features:** Many custodial platforms frequently update their systems with new features, enhanced user interfaces, and additional functionalities catering to your needs.

#### Cons:

- **Centralization:** Being centralized entities,  custodials such as exchanges become attractive targets for hackers. Moreover, centralization means a single point of failure, which can be risky.

- **Limited Control:** You do not have direct control over your assets in custodial solutions. The platform manages the funds, and you need to trust that platform's integrity.

- **Censorship and Restrictions:** Custodial platforms can, under certain conditions, freeze accounts or withhold funds, either due to governmental requests, suspicious activity, or platform policies.

- **Privacy Concerns:** Since your identity is often tied to your accounts on centralized platforms, your transaction history and balances might be more exposed than in non-custodial solutions.

### Non-custodial
#### Pros:

- **Full Control:** You have sole control over your assets. No intermediary can access or manage your funds without your private key or device where they're stored.

- **Censorship-Resistant:** Without a centralized authority overseeing transactions, there's less risk of funds being frozen or censored. 

- **Enhanced Privacy:** Since there's no central entity logging all activities, non-custodial solutions offer more privacy. While most blockchain transactions are public, the identity tied to those transactions can remain pseudonymous.

- **No Intermediary Risks:** Reduced concerns about the platform going offline, getting hacked, or facing regulatory issues that could affect your assets.

#### Cons:

- **Personal Responsibility:** The responsibility for security lies entirely on your shoulders. If you lose access to your private keys, you lose access to your assets.

- **Learning Curve:** Non-custodial solutions, especially for complete beginners, might be challenging to navigate. Understanding seed phrases, private keys, blockchain mechanics, and security is essential.

- **Limited Customer Support:** If a mistake occurs, such as sending funds to the wrong address, there's typically no way to retrieve your assets, and there's limited if any, support to help in such situations.

- **Potential for Loss:** Mismanagement, forgetting credentials, or falling for scams can lead to irreversible loss of assets. With non-custodial wallets, the weakest link is you and the way you store and protect your private keys and recovery seed.


As a decentralized and censorship-resistant platform, we strongly support non-custodial solutions. So, if you've decided to give non-custodial wallets a try, here are some tips before you jump into becoming an autonomous and self-sovereign crypto HODLer. 

## Security Tips for Non-Custodial Wallets

- **Regular Backups:** Ensure you back up your wallet regularly and store those backups in multiple secure places.

- **Use Hardware Wallets:** When dealing with a significant amount of cryptocurrency, consider investing in a hardware wallet. These devices store private keys offline, making them immune to online hacks.

- **Double-check Addresses:** Before sending funds, always double-check the recipient's address. Malware can change copied addresses, so it's crucial to be vigilant. Many people are used to check just a first and last few characters of the address, but this is not sufficient as there are now methods that can fool you with generating a malicious address containing these characters. Always check the full address! (twice)

- **Update Regularly:** Make sure that your wallet software is up to date. Developers regularly release security updates, so keeping your software updated is important.

## Tips on storing and protecting your private keys and recovery seed

- **Physical Security:** Write down your recovery seed on a piece of paper and store it in a secure location, such as a safe or safety deposit box. If you can afford it, explore recovery seed backups made of steel that are resistant to the elements of nature and time, such as CryptoSteel or CryptoTag. 

- **Avoid Digital Copies:** Taking photos or screenshots of your seed phrase can expose you to online threats, especially if these digital copies are stored on devices connected to the internet. Write them down or record them on a physical seed backup.

- **Use Tamper-Evident Bags:** Place your written recovery seed in a tamper-evident bag. This will help you know if someone has attempted to access it.

- **Multiple Copies:** Consider creating multiple copies of your recovery seed and storing them in various secure locations. This ensures that if one copy is lost or damaged, you have backups. You can also split the seed (words) into multiple places to increase the security even more. 

- **Keep it Secret:** Your recovery seed is the ultimate backup of your funds. Sharing it or exposing it can lead to loss of funds. Ensure that only trusted individuals know of its location and contents.

As we usher in a future where digital assets become increasingly mainstream, understanding the nuances of storage solutions becomes essential. With knowledge and careful measures, you can ensure that your HODLings remain both secure and accessible.


## Conclusion
In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrencies, the choice between custodial and non-custodial solutions goes beyond mere preference—it's a decision that weighs the scales of convenience against autonomy. 

As we've seen, each approach has its merits and pitfalls, and the right choice often depends on your knowledge and comfort with the technology, desired level of control, and risk tolerance. With the overarching theme of decentralization driving the world of digital assets, non-custodial solutions resonate deeply with the ethos of cryptocurrency. Yet, as with all powerful tools, they come with significant responsibilities.

Do not feel pressured into using non-custodial wallets if you prefer to use custodial services. Ultimately, it is your choice, and the stakes are high. No one has the right to tell you how to protect your hard-earned assets and private data. 

Always do your own research, consult multiple sources, and review your situation to figure out which of the two suits your needs. 

**Stay vigilant and be safe!**


Explaining the Differences Between Custodial and Non-Custodial Wallets

[Anton Trunov](https://github.com/anton-trunov), a prominent blockchain developer recognized for his work on blockchain-oriented programming languages, is joining the TON Foundation to focus on [TON's Tact language](https://blog.ton.org/why-tact-is-ton-s-next-big-breakthrough). Trunov is not just another hire; it's a strategic move signaling a new era for Tact, TON's innovative smart contract development language.

In the past, Anton worked on Zilliqa and Fuel ecosystems, where he played a key role in shaping the Scilla and Sway smart contract languages. His expertise and work reflect a deep understanding of blockchain technology and innovative programming languages. Anton also has a strong academic background and has co-authored several papers on language design and verification.

We welcome Anton to the team and believe that his contributions will shape the development of [TON ](https://ton.org/)and provide developers building on Tact with unparalleled ease of use and robustness, making it a go-to language for blockchain developers. Anton's joining marks a milestone for the TON Foundation and the Tact language. His track record promises an exciting future for Tact, solidifying TON's position as a leader in the Web3 market. 

As we welcome Anton, we also want to extend our deepest gratitude to the initial creators of Tact, [Oleg Andreev](https://github.com/oleganza), [Steve Korshakov](https://github.com/ex3ndr), [Tal Kol](https://github.com/talkol), and [Kirill Emelyanenko](https://github.com/EmelyanenkoK). Their vision and efforts have been fundamental in bringing Tact to where it is today, and their legacy continues with Anton's fresh perspective and expertise.

## **Tact: The Next Frontier**
Tact, accessible at [tact-lang.org](https://tact-lang.org/), represents the next generation of smart contract languages. It's designed to be at the forefront of the blockchain revolution, and with Anton's addition to the team, Tact is poised to become the industry's most user-friendly smart contract language.

Under Anton's guidance, Tact comes with a new development roadmap. This roadmap is not just a plan but also an invitation for collaboration. We encourage the TON community, developers, and enthusiasts to follow Tact's development and contribute to further refining it. Your voice matters, and you can make it heard at [Tact Language Roadmap](https://github.com/tact-lang/roadmap), where we welcome all your feedback.

## **The Tact Roadmap**
This is just a brief overview of the items on Anton’s new Tact Roadmap. Please see the link at the end of this article for a detailed view.

- **Security Audit:** Collaborating with experts to ensure Tact's security, particularly addressing FunC's security as Tact transpiles into it. This includes resolving code execution issues and thorough penetration testing.
- **Language Enhancements:**
    - Introduction of typed tuples and enums for more expressive smart contracts.
    - Arrays implementation, improving upon the current workaround using maps.
    - Enhanced handling of low-level constructs like Slice and Cell.
    - Local type inference and improved support for nullable types.
    - Advanced map functionalities, including traversals and better deletion syntax.
    - New stateful operators and syntactic sugar for smoother coding.
    - Improved error reporting for both syntactic and semantic errors.
- **Contract Upgradeability:** Implementing a standardized mechanism for contract and family upgrades.
- **Gas Optimization:** Aiming to reduce gas consumption for both user-written code and the Tact runtime.
- **Development Tooling:** Focusing primarily on the VS Code plugin and developing a standalone LSP server for broader editor compatibility.
- **Documentation Enhancement:** Expanding Tact documentation with chapters for beginners, best practices, and common issues. Community contributions are encouraged and facilitated by our Grants and Bounties program.
- **Security Audit Tools:** Developing automated tools for security audits, including static analyzers and tools for model checking and symbolic execution. Community input is sought for these tools, focusing on the unique challenges of the actor model in TON.

To dive deep into the details, please visit [The Tact Roadmap on GitHub](https://github.com/tact-lang/roadmap).



Anton Trunov Joins TON Foundation and Presents a New Tact Roadmap

The [TON Accelerator Mentorship Program](https://ton.org/accelerator) is designed to guide and support builders and developers within the TON Ecosystem to help them build better products, attract audiences, and increase their profitability. It’s powered by a network of seasoned experts and innovators, and now you can become one of them. 

Our mentors offer their rich experience across diverse fields, voluntarily dedicate their time and expertise, and foster the growth of [TON](https://ton.org/) startups by offering a range of opportunities. 

## **Unparalleled support for early-stage projects**
As a mentor, you decide in what shape or form you will help projects grow, but we’re mainly looking for mentors who can provide: 

- **Expert guidance** based on personal experience and deep industry knowledge, offering valuable advice tailored to the challenges faced by individual projects
- **New connections**, facilitated through networking, help projects form beneficial relationships and connections within the industry
- **Deep industry insights** to provide a comprehensive understanding of market trends, challenges, and opportunities to ensure projects are well-equipped to navigate the Web3 landscape. 

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<br/>


## **Our Goal: Fostering Ecosystem Growth**
Our mission is to curate a diverse group of experts committed to driving the [TON Ecosystem](https://ton.org/) forward. This mentorship program is designed to leverage these professionals' collective knowledge and experience to provide startups with unmatched guidance and support. By helping them navigate challenges, optimize growth, and achieve their potential, we aim to solidify TON's position as a hub of innovation and success.

Help us by becoming a part of the program and applying now. We carefully review each application and process them as fast as possible. The onboarding process couldn’t be any simpler, and our team will ensure you’re fully briefed on everything you need to know. 

If you apply and receive the invitation to join the program, you will be invited to a Mentor Induction Session, where the team gives you a comprehensive introduction to the program’s processes, goals, and roles. You will then have the opportunity to choose your preferred mode of interaction and meet with other mentors and the program team regularly to discuss feedback, interests, and learnings. 


## **Benefits of being a TON mentor**
Being a mentor in the [TON Accelerator Program](https://ton.org/accelerator) is not just about giving. In return, the team behind the accelerator will help you grow your knowledge and connections. 

- **Networking & Growth:** You will gain access to an expansive network of professionals, founders, investors, and innovators. This allows you to refine and expand the power of your network and meet interesting people, including potential future business partners. 
- **Visibility:** As a TON Mentor, you will gain exposure to the entire TON community through partnerships, AMAs, and promotions highlighting your valued contributions. 
- **Exclusive Events:** You will enjoy invitations to exclusive events from TON Foundation and its partners, private seminars and gatherings, along with potential paid opportunities to monetize your expertise. 

- **Other Benefits & Perks**


**Are you ready to help us build the biggest Web3 ecosystem in the world?**

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Become a Mentor for the TON Accelerator Mentorship Program

Today, [The Open Network](https://ton.org/) has made history. TON Foundation performed a live performance test of the TON Blockchain Technology to achieve the highest transaction speed for a blockchain in the world. TON has officially bypassed all L1 blockchains and centralized payment networks such as PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard. [This result is now fully audited by a leading auditing firm, CertiK](https://www.certik.com/resources/blog/7KVtBkHfJkcj0U6u0kKtPe-how-certik-verified-tons-tps-results). 

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Toncoin_copy_93ef07bbf4/Toncoin_copy_93ef07bbf4.png) 

We’re ecstatic to report that the test was successful, and **TON Blockchain reached a staggering speed of 104,715 transactions per second**. This makes TON Blockchain the fastest and most scalable blockchain in the world. And yet, this record is far from reaching TON’s limit. Thanks to its unique architecture, TON can process millions of transactions per second from billions of users by adding more nodes, confirming that TON is technically miles ahead of all the other existing blockchains. 

[You can now watch the recording of our live performance test on Youtube.](https://youtube.com/live/jWWl1sLGY7s?feature=share) 

Achieving this record wasn’t an accident. [TON’s architecture](https://blog.ton.org/the-architecture-behind-the-open-network) has been designed to enable unlimited scalability, with the core feature being horizontal sharding. This allows the TON Blockchain to ‘partition’ into smaller workchains and shardchains, so each node only needs to store and validate a subset of the network data instead of storing and verifying the entire blockchain. 

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Scheme_6852b1c2d0/Scheme_6852b1c2d0.png) 

This enables higher transaction speeds but also makes TON more secure and decentralized. With this in mind, it’s easy to understand why we sometimes call TON the “blockchain of blockchains.”  

If you want to learn more about TON’s architecture, [read our article](https://blog.ton.org/the-architecture-behind-the-open-network). 

## **Another Step Forward**
When the TON Community embarked on a journey towards turning [TON and Telegram into the world’s first Web3 SuperApp](https://blog.ton.org/building-a-web3-ecosystem-in-telegram-with-toncoin), everyone knew this feat would require a technical marvel – a blockchain capable of serving hundreds of millions of users. 

By setting this record, TON proves it is capable of exactly that. TON provides practically unlimited scalability and a seamless user experience without transaction bottlenecks or unexpected transaction fee spikes. It’s important to note that this record was not performed using simple coin transfers but by executing complex smart contracts.

With this record, TON proved that we already have the necessary infrastructure to power the world’s first SuperApp built on blockchain, far beyond simple transactions or smart contracts. This paradigm shift changes how we think about blockchain and its capabilities. 

## **Closing The Gap**
Web3 represents a new era for applications and platforms, one that gives network participants control over their own data, identities, and assets, becoming more than just mere ‘users .’ By proving that blockchain can scale and handle the load necessary for complex applications like SuperApp, TON is accelerating the rate at which these decentralized systems become a part of our daily lives.

High scalability and low latency are often seen as the missing pieces for mainstream adoption of Web3, but TON is quickly closing that gap. 

## **Conclusion**
TON’s new world record is not just a benchmark or a PR stunt; it’s a statement highlighting the possibilities of TON Blockchain Technology. By setting the stage for the world’s first blockchain-powered SuperApp, TON isn’t just breaking records but also exploring the horizons for new use cases and Web3 adoption. 

With TON’s unique architecture and focus on the ecosystem, the TON Community shows that the future of a highly scalable and decentralized ecosystem is not just possible but already here. 



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