Introduction

When non-fungible tokens (NFTs) first appeared, the technology was quickly popularized as digital collectibles: artwork, avatars, and in-game items recorded on blockchains. This early stage, often called NFT 1.0, proved that verifiable digital ownership was possible. But it also had limits: once created, NFTs rarely changed, and creators often missed out on royalties when their work was resold.

NFT 2.0 on TON addresses these limitations through updated standards that enforce creator royalties and provide clearer ownership rights. The system uses off-chain coordination to track royalty compliance while maintaining on-chain integrity.

How TON's NFT 2.0 Works

Earlier NFT systems such as Ethereum's ERC-721 proved that digital assets could be unique, but royalties were optional and often ignored. Marketplaces could choose whether to honor royalty payments, meaning artists and developers frequently missed secondary market revenue.

TON's NFT 2.0 updates existing standards to create an ecosystem where creators receive automatic compensation. The updated standards are TEP-62 (NFT core), TEP-64 (collections), and TEP-66 (royalty logic). Together they create a coordinated, off-chain system that tracks royalty compliance for NFTs built on TON Blockchain.

The process works as follows:

1. Minting and Metadata: Creators mint NFTs via TON's Mint Platform API, which connects smart contracts with web tools. Each collection defines royalty recipients and percentages for resales.

2. Royalty Enforcement: Marketplaces read royalty data from the NFT's contract via royalty_params(). When an item sells, the creator's share is automatically sent to their wallet.

3. Violation Tracking: If royalties aren't paid, the Mint Platform updates the NFT's metadata. A new field, royalty_violation, switches to true. Wallets and explorers then flag or blur the asset as "ROYALTY VIOLATED."

4. Off-Chain Coordination, On-Chain Integrity: Enforcement happens through metadata rather than by altering contracts, keeping TON open, decentralized, and efficient.

Creators receive automatic compensation, collectors can verify which NFTs follow the rules, and the network remains permissionless.

Why TON's NFT 2.0 Matters

The first NFT generation demonstrated demand for on-chain digital assets, but revealed significant flaws. Royalties were easy to skip, and creators were often excluded from the value chain.

NFT 2.0 on TON introduces enforceable, transparent, and standardized royalties across the network. When art, music, or in-game items are resold, creators continue to benefit. This creates a repeatable model for long-term participation.

• Creators gain predictable income from secondary sales.
• Collectors can verify authenticity and compliance.
• Marketplaces operate within one shared standard rather than fragmented systems.

TON's architecture supports speed, scalability, and low fees, enabling it to manage millions of NFTs. Its integration with Telegram allows users to discover, trade, and showcase NFTs directly within the messaging platform, which has over 900 million active users.

Challenges and Implementation

NFT 2.0 adoption requires ecosystem alignment. The system only functions if marketplaces, wallets, and explorers enforce the same royalty logic. TON Foundation and its developer community are publishing open-source tools and APIs to facilitate this.

User education is necessary. Many users view NFTs primarily as speculative assets. Understanding royalty-violated tags and their significance will help shift behavior toward supporting creators.

Technical coordination is ongoing. TON's hybrid design uses both on-chain contracts and off-chain metadata, requiring services to stay synchronized. Indexers need to track metadata updates in near real-time to ensure royalty flags appear consistently across platforms.

As other blockchains refine their NFT standards, TON's model could serve as a reference for cross-chain, creator-focused royalty systems.

NFTs as Functional Digital Assets

NFT 2.0 on TON represents a shift from novelty to utility. By embedding NFTs within mainstream environments like Telegram, TON positions them as everyday digital assets that can power loyalty rewards, event tickets, game items, memberships, and more.

This approach aligns with TON Foundation's broader mission of making decentralized technology accessible. Users can interact with digital assets within familiar platforms without learning complex tools. TON Blockchain operates in the background.

The updated standard also expands who can build with NFTs. Artists, developers, and communities can create projects that reach global audiences while users gain ownership and verifiable identity within digital spaces they already use.

Conclusion

TON's NFT 2.0 upgrade addresses core limitations from the first generation of NFTs. By combining automatic royalties, ecosystem collaboration, and transparent enforcement, TON provides a model for digital ownership that compensates creators and establishes clear rules for users.

The system demonstrates that enforceable creator compensation can coexist with decentralization, and that TON's architecture can deliver both efficiency and accountability at scale. As NFTs move beyond speculation, TON's approach offers a framework for digital economies that support creators and scale to mainstream adoption.