TON plans to launch a layer-2 payment network to enhance scalability and transaction efficiency

TON (The Open Network) is making significant strides in scaling its blockchain with the launch of a Layer-2 Payment Network, which is set to be one of the key developments in its 2025 roadmap. This move aims to enhance TON’s transaction capabilities, supporting instant money transfers with minimal fees and seamless asset swaps.

According to updates shared by the TON Core team, the Layer-2 Payment Network is inspired by the original TON whitepaper, which envisioned a decentralized payment channel network similar to Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. The goal is to enable instant transfers between nodes and facilitate micro-commissions for transactions, making the blockchain more efficient and scalable for everyday use.

The initial progress for the Layer-2 Payment Network has already reached the Beta stage, with a working prototype in place. However, this prototype is still undergoing further testing and auditing to ensure that it is robust enough for broader use. Once completed, the Payment Network will allow for the seamless transfer of funds with low fees and improved speed, which is crucial for improving scalability on the TON blockchain.

In addition to the Layer-2 Payment Network, the Accelerator mainnet upgrade is one of the first goals of the roadmap, aimed at optimizing shardchain tracking and separating validator functions into two distinct roles: collator and validator. Collators will collect transactions and generate block candidates, while validators will focus on confirming the blocks.

A significant milestone for TON is the interoperability improvements, as TON plans to collaborate with Axelar, LayerZero, and Wormhole, which will help connect TON to other blockchain ecosystems. These collaborations aim to improve the trustless bridging of assets between Toncoin and Bitcoin using TON teleport.

Furthermore, TON Connect, a Telegram-based platform, will serve as the primary gateway for integrating TON with Telegram mini apps, allowing easier access and adoption of TON’s blockchain capabilities through one of the most widely used communication platforms.

In the upcoming months, TON is expected to add support for more currencies and swaps to the Layer-2 Payment Network, further enhancing its utility in the global payments ecosystem.

As these developments unfold, the TON community is poised for significant improvements in terms of speed, scalability, and interoperability, potentially expanding its use case beyond crypto enthusiasts and making it more accessible for mainstream adoption.