Foreword

According to the official TON technical roadmap for the first half of 2025, this technological upgrade clearly aims at three core objectives: alleviating congestion, enhancing scalability, and strengthening network stability. This upgrade is divided into four modules, each corresponding to a key piece in TON’s journey towards becoming a global Web3 gateway.

Mainnet Accelerator Upgrade

This is the largest mainnet upgrade in the history of TON, with the core focus on enabling the Infinite Sharding architecture, aimed at fundamentally addressing the long-standing issue of blockchain network congestion.

1. Shard Chain Tracking Optimization:

In traditional blockchains, nodes typically need to synchronize a large amount of chain data, but under TON’s new architecture, nodes only need to track the main chain and associated shards, significantly reducing operating costs and hardware requirements.

2. Validator Function Separation:

TON divides the original single role of validator into two roles: collator and validator. One side specializes in collecting transactions, while the other side specializes in validating blocks, effectively improving overall processing efficiency and block stability.

This upgrade is not just to support the network, but also to prepare in advance for the high-frequency interactions of tens of millions of Telegram users entering Web3.

Layer 2 payment network

TON is testing a Layer 2 payment solution similar to the Bitcoin Lightning Network, with the core goal of achieving instant, low-cost, and ultra-high-frequency asset exchange experiences. Its applicable scenarios are:

• Jetton consumption in Telegram bot games
• Small tips, digital content purchases
• Direct payment transfer in the chat room

In the future, through this Layer 2 network, Telegram users will be able to transfer Jetton instantly with just a click, even faster than sending a message. This is great news for developers who want to build mini-games, social applications, or reward mechanisms for content creators on Telegram.

BTC Teleport launched

For blockchain applications to take off, asset interoperability is a fundamental requirement. The BTC Teleport launched by TON is a peer-to-peer, low-trust dependency Bitcoin cross-chain solution. Its key features are:

• Through a trust-minimized bridging mechanism (Non-Custodial Bridge)
• Do not rely on central institutions for verification.
• Lowering user thresholds and risks

Users in the TON ecosystem can bring BTC into the TON network to participate in DeFi, payments, or trading without going through cumbersome or high-risk bridging processes. TON officially opens the door to the interconnection of mainstream assets and lays a solid foundation for its DeFi ecosystem.

Validator and Infrastructure Optimization

No matter how cool the features are, without a stable operating infrastructure, they are just castles in the air. This round of TON upgrades also synchronously strengthens the operational tools and security defenses of nodes and validators.

1. Launch multiple management tools:

• MyTonCtrl: Node Data Backup and Restoration Function
• Telegram Bot Notification: Instant Reminder of Node Status
• Web Dashboard: Provides a graphical monitoring interface to enhance visual management efficiency.

2. Optimization of Security and Penalty System:

• If a node fails to successfully produce a block within the specified round, it will face penalties.
• The new version of TON Proxy is being developed to enhance its ability to resist DDoS attacks.
• API Upgrade: Added features such as simulated trading, domain query, and operation pause.

TON is not just a tool for Web3 developers; it also refines the entire operational experience to perfection, allowing beginners to easily run nodes and enabling veterans to stably deploy applications such as DeFi, games, and Bot tools.

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Summary

If Ethereum is the enlightening mentor of smart contracts, then TON may be the shortest bridge from Web 2.5 to Web 3. It starts with Telegram users, doing unfamiliar things with a familiar interface; beginning with chat, it enters a new world of asset, identity, and application interoperability. This time, the four major upgrades are not just technical enhancements, but a strategic foundation for the entire Web 3 ecosystem. Before decentralized everyday applications have fully exploded, TON’s current layout may very well be a precursor to the next great migration.