What's the Deal with TON Coin? 🤔
TON, short for Telegram Open Network, is a layer-1 blockchain that Telegram launched back in 2018. It's got a sharded, proof-of-stake setup, making it super fast for transactions. 🚀
The OG Plan: Gram 💰
Originally, the network's currency was called 'Gram.' It was all about paying fees, settling payments, and making the network tick. They raised a whopping $1.7 billion in their ICO, second only to EOS. But then, they hit a wall. 🛑
The SEC Drama 🏛️
The Durov brothers almost got TON to the finish line, but then the SEC stepped in. They saw the Gram token as an unregistered security, and that was pretty much game over for Telegram's involvement. 🙅♂️
Community to the Rescue! 🦸♂️
But hey, TON's code was open-source. A bunch of devs took over and kept the project alive. They even renamed it to "The Open Network" but kept the cool TON abbreviation. 🔄
How's It Work Now? 🛠️
TON Coin is the new Gram, used for everything on the network. They've got a wallet for fee-free transfers, and it's the go-to for Telegram's Mini apps. Plus, they've got extra services like TON Storage and a decentralized VPN. 🌐
Speed & Tokenomics 📈
TON is fast, hitting a record of 55k transactions per second in 2021. It switched from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake in 2022. Right now, there are 3.4 billion TON coins in circulation out of a max 5 billion. Oh, and there's a tiny 0.6% annual inflation. 💹
DAO & Roadmap 🗺️
TON is a DAO, meaning token holders have a say in its future. Developer activity is booming, up 102% YoY. They're leveraging Telegram's massive user base to attract more projects. Even Tap Fantasy, a blockchain game, switched to TON recently. 🎮
So, TON's got a lot going for it. It's fast, it's got a strong community, and it's more than just a token—it's a whole ecosystem. 🌍
Worth keeping an eye (and some $$$) on 👀!
One Love,
The FXPROFESSOR 💙