Since the announcement of the metaverse in late 2021, the phrase “Web 3.0” has begun to sweep the internet. Web 3.0 primarily means the next stage of Internet communication, including more accessible databases that include smarter search engines, more autonomous processes, faster browsing, and completely open access to everyone.
Defined in a 2001 paper by Berners-Lee, this new iteration of the internet is based on two central concepts: decentralization and bottom-up design. Basically, if web 3.0 were to develop, it would be by a range of experts who develop in plain sight to create a decentralized network without a central authority.
While Web 3.0 has mostly been theory for the past 20 years, recent technological developments have caused companies to materialize pushing into Web 3.0 territory. Yet companies that grow in the right direction almost always focus on singular products, building innovative features but failing to create a complete network.
It’s there that TONNE is coming, with this recent tech startup representing a community-driven blockchain-based ecosystem that spans an impressive array of user-facing features.
From creating a decentralized storage system and accessible DNS to supporting payments to proxy networks that ensure online privacy, the TON ecosystem is by far the closest development to a platform that resembles Web 3.0.
Presentation of TON
Originally founded by Paul and Nikolai Durov, best known as the founders of Telegram Messenger, TON is a decentralized network that allows users to perform various functions. Early in their development, Ton, also known as The Open Network, facilitated two main problems that they aim to solve: overcoming the scalability problem faced by blockchain networks and overcoming the obstacles that have prevented the web 3.0 to come to fruition.
Through an innovative selection of features, TON has achieved these initial goals, growing into a fully operational ecosystem that enables millions of instant transactions on the blockchain, alongside decentralized internet systems that provide power to its users.
After a run-in with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in early 2019, the founders of Telegram took a step back from this project, allowing it to go fully open-source. Two developers, “EmelyanenkoK” and “Anatoliy Makosov”, took the reins of this project, making Newton a central hub for the community of developers currently working on TON.
Over time, as the plan for TON was realized, with infrastructure, individual features and documentation realized, the team behind Newton renamed itself TON Foundation.
As of 2021, the TON Foundation is an entirely non-profit community project; its documentation and open source code allow anyone in the world to get involved in this decentralized project.
With an incredible amount of progress in a short time and an ambitious set of Web 3.0 features currently in the final stages of development, TON’s innovative blockchain-based ecosystem ushers in a new stage of decentralized internet usage.
The two sides of TON
As their two concurrent missions suggest, TON is actively working to develop a blockchain network while creating DNS, storage, proxy and payment services that will allow future users to surf the internet and perform a range of functions. .
Although seemingly pointing in different directions, these two missions are actually symbiotic, with the development of the blockchain network becoming the foundations on which TON’s Web 3.0 operates.
Let’s decompose these two halves of TON.
TON’s Blockchain Innovation and Master Chain
The very heart of TON is its unique blockchain platform, this central ecosystem aimed at merging all existing blockchains under a single decentralized network. While those familiar with the many transaction issues Bitcoin and Etherium have faced may raise an eyebrow at this statement, TON’s breakthrough features allow it to hold up to 2^92 companion blockchains.
Thanks to four principles, TON Blockchain is capable of processing millions of transactions per second, making it the most innovative blockchain ecosystem to date. It works by overcoming scalability issues that other blockchains face, with self-healing mechanisms, a logarithmic relationship between transfer time and number of blockchains, and sharding, allowing this platform to handle infinitely increased loads.
Instead of queuing transactions, TON can split and merge blocks, while creating new valid blocks on invalidated ones to allow millions of chains to operate without simultaneously slowing processing speed.
Built on a proof-of-stake consensus, where validating nodes deposit stakes, this consensus allows TON to focus computing power on managing transactions and smart contracts. This system allows for both speed and efficiency, allowing the above three principles to further streamline the blockchain system.
This process results in a system in which an unlimited number of users can continuously, 24 hours a day, access and use all the functions provided by TON. This decentralized system radically redefines what was once possible with blockchain with infinite scalability.
TON and the movement towards Web 3.0
Backed by the blockchain network, TON has used its ecosystem as a playground for advanced innovative features. These features are user-oriented, with the end goal to result in “A true Web3.0 Internet“.
There are four main elements that TON focuses on. Some are more in development than others, but the whole system will aim to provide users with:-
- Ton storage
- TON DNS
- Proxy TON
- TON payments
Let’s break them down further.
Ton storage
Pushing user interface simplicity as the core concept on which TON storage thrives, this system allows TON users to store and exchange data with ease. TON Storage relies on smart contracts to always keep this service available as a more complete and simpler version of Dropbox.
It is accessible through the TON P2P network, democratizing digital storage as every user has access to a potentially limitless digital storage solution.
TON DNS
To achieve Web 3.0, blockchain must become mainstream and accessible to everyone. YOUR DNS is a big step towards this dream, with the ability to assign human readable names to assets, services, network nodes, accounts making the system highly accessible.
Given that 96% of Americans do not understand decentralized network systems, TON has focused on making its systems as user-friendly as possible. TON picks up an element of familiarity by assigning human-readable names, making their service comparable to using the internet to browse.
With everything assigned a human-readable name, anyone can access the system and quickly gain a level of familiarity.
Proxy TON
A central feature of decentralized networks is online privacy and anonymity. The TON proxy is the solution to this, the network proxy providing a layer of browsing anonymity. By accessing these features, users will be able to go through VPN services and blockchain-based TOR alternatives.
Not only does this grant personal anonymity while browsing online, but it also allows decentralized applications built on the TON ecosystem to remain censorship-free.
TON payments
TON also offers a payment system as an all-in-one platform, allowing users to make off-chain and on-chain transfers. These transfers can be between any two desired parties, including services, humans, and robots.
TON Payment has safeguards in place that allow even off-chain transfers to become secure, ensuring that its users are completely safe while in the ecosystem.
TON Services
As a platform that puts innovation and community first, TON also launched TON Services, which allows anyone to use the TON ecosystem to develop decentralized applications.
These services allow users to create smartphone-like interfaces for other members of the community, further expanding the possibilities of the ecosystem as new apps and features are developed daily.
There is an ever-expanding register of all The decentralized applications of TON Services.
How does TON integrate payment into its ecosystem?
Given the broad applicability of the ecosystem itself and the features, applications and services it continuously produces, it is no surprise that TON has an integrated cryptocurrency as the basis of its systems.
Toncoin works directly in the TON economy, driving progress and acting as a primary means of payment. While there are ways to earn TON, either through a commission for processing transactions or by becoming a validator, the coin is primarily a support system for ecosystem-focused functions. ‘user.
For example, with Toncoin, you will be able to:-
- Pay for TON proxy
- Pay for data storage on TON Storage
- Vote in community forums where new settings around the ecosystem are offered
- Pay for domains on YOUR DNS and hosting sites on YOUR WWW
- Pay for services in any app launched on the TON ecosystem
As you can see, Toncoin is deeply embedded in the ecosystem, acting as a primary means of payment which then drives prices up and further creates a need for the coin. Above all, Toncoin signifies the longevity of the platform, the intrinsic link between currency and services creating an ongoing relationship that emphasizes community participation.
Conclusion
Potentially representing the beginning of Web 3.0, TON’s huge ecosystem has all the essential features a user would need when thinking about what Web 3.0 would entail.
From payment and data storage systems to WWW sites and DNS registries, TON’s symbiotic approach between revolutionary blockchain-driven technology and innovative human-led community features demonstrates the power of modern blockchain.
Far surpassing what any other company has currently achieved in the decentralized ecosystem space, TON is an incredibly exciting company to follow.
