From the perspective of technical architecture, the design of the TON blockchain in 2021 appeared particularly forward-looking and innovative. Its core concept revolves around a modular chain structure, a design that not only enhances the system’s scalability and flexibility but also hints at potential future directions for blockchain technology development. Unlike the widely adopted languages in the Web2 and Ethereum EVM ecosystems, such as Solidity, TON took an independent path by building the TVirtualMachine (TVM) and introducing three proprietary programming languages: Fift, FunC, and Tac. The emergence of these languages signifies TON’s distinct position and exploration in its technology stack.
FunC, as the main language for developing TON smart contracts, was designed to align with the characteristics of the TON blockchain, offering a high-level, statically-typed programming experience similar to the C language, making it easier for developers to understand and adopt. FunC programs are then translated into Fift assembly code, which is further compiled into bytecode executable by the TVM. Fift, a low-level assembly language, plays the role of a bridge between FunC and TVM. While not directly used for writing smart contracts, it ensures a smooth transition from high-level code to machine instructions.
The Tac language aims to provide a more abstract programming model on top of FunC while maintaining compatibility with the TON Virtual Machine, further enriching the variety of tools available to TON developers.
TON’s choice of a different technical path is closely tied to its broader vision. TON is not only targeting the Web3 enthusiast community but is also focused on reaching a wider Web2 user base, particularly Telegram’s massive user community. To better serve this target group, TON draws from design principles and technical practices in the Web2 space, such as high concurrency processing and asynchronous architecture, striving to deliver performance while lowering the barriers for users to engage with blockchain technology.
This strategy is reflected in the construction and development of the TON ecosystem, creating a unique environment that blends Web2 and Web3 characteristics. It has attracted developers from the traditional internet sector while also providing fertile ground for native Web3 projects. However, this choice of technology stack and ecosystem layout also presents challenges, particularly in building the developer community. Overcoming the learning curve posed by the new programming languages and the uncertainties during the early stages of community growth is essential. Nevertheless, TON’s series of technical decisions undoubtedly paves a distinctive path in the blockchain field, showcasing its ambition in both technological innovation and application expansion.
LayerPixel uses a modular design to overcome TON’s asynchronous limitations and leverage its sharding benefits.It separates the Settlement and Engine Layers, enabling diverse trading strategies, copy trading, and lending through different engines.It allows App developers to configure various user wallets and simplifies user interaction with TON Wallet and other LayerPixel components.LayerPixel’s future plans include becoming a cross-chain solution for all Telegram Mini Apps.