Catchain 2.0: TON Blockchain Gets 10x Speed Boost in Major Upgrade
The TON network activated the Catchain 2.0 upgrade on April 9, increasing throughput tenfold. Validators approved the initiative with over 85% of votes.
TON Activates Catchain 2.0 — Blocks Now Generated in 400 Milliseconds
The TON blockchain activated its Catchain 2.0 upgrade on April 9, delivering a tenfold increase in network throughput. The upgrade passed with overwhelming validator support, securing more than 85% of votes. Block generation speed has increased sixfold, with creation time dropping to 400 milliseconds across the entire network.
Pavel Durov confirmed the successful deployment in a social media post:
«The TON blockchain just got upgraded and is now 10× faster. Block rate increased 6×. Transactions are now instant, subsecond. This was step 1 of 7 to Make TON Great Again (MTONGA). Next step: cut the already low transaction fees by 6×.» — Pavel Durov (@durov), original post
According to Durov, Catchain 2.0 represents the first of seven planned steps under the Make TON Great Again (MTONGA) initiative. The next phase will target a sixfold reduction in transaction fees, which are already relatively low.
Why This Matters
A tenfold throughput improvement fundamentally reshapes TON's competitive standing among high-speed blockchains. Transactions now settle in under one second, bringing the user experience closer to traditional payment systems. For an ecosystem deeply integrated with Telegram — one of the world's most popular messaging apps — this speed boost is pivotal, enabling blockchain payments at a scale suitable for mainstream adoption.
Network Economics and Inflation Concerns
While the technical gains are significant, the upgrade introduces economic considerations. Block rewards remain unchanged, but shorter block intervals will temporarily boost validator earnings. The existing mechanism that burns 50% of transaction fees continues to operate.
At current reward levels and the accelerated block production rate, annual TON token inflation could surge from 0.6% to 3.6%. To counteract this, a proposal is already queued for a vote that would slash rewards from 1.7 TON to 0.35 TON on the masterchain and from 1 TON to 0.2 TON on the main network. The deadline for this governance vote is set for June.
15-minute TON/USDT chart on Binance. Source: TradingView
Market Reaction
Following the Catchain 2.0 activation, TON's price rose 2% over the past 24 hours. However, the token remains in an extended downturn — it has lost 57% of its value over the past 12 months.
Earlier in February, the team behind TON Wallet — Telegram's built-in non-custodial wallet — launched vaults for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT designed to generate passive income, further expanding the TON ecosystem's capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TON Catchain 2.0 upgrade?
Catchain 2.0 is a major upgrade to the TON blockchain activated on April 9, increasing network throughput tenfold. Block generation time has been reduced to 400 milliseconds across the entire network. The upgrade was approved by over 85% of validators.
How does the TON upgrade affect token inflation?
With unchanged block rewards and faster block production, TON's annual inflation could rise from 0.6% to 3.6%. A governance proposal to reduce rewards — from 1.7 to 0.35 TON on the masterchain and 1 to 0.2 TON on the main network — is pending with a June deadline.
What is MTONGA for TON blockchain?
MTONGA stands for Make TON Great Again, a seven-step improvement plan for the TON blockchain announced by Pavel Durov. Catchain 2.0 is step one, and the next phase involves cutting transaction fees by 6x.
How fast are TON transactions after the Catchain 2.0 upgrade?
After Catchain 2.0, TON transactions settle in under one second. Block creation time has been reduced to 400 milliseconds, with block generation speed increasing sixfold compared to pre-upgrade levels.
Did TON price go up after the upgrade?
TON's price increased by 2% in the 24 hours following the Catchain 2.0 activation. However, the token is still down 57% over the past 12 months, remaining in a prolonged downtrend.
Read also
TON Wallet Introduces Yield Vaults for BTC, ETH, and USDT Directly in Telegram
TON Wallet has launched yield vaults for BTC, ETH, and USDT directly within Telegram, offering up to 18% APY on stablecoins through partnerships with Morpho, TAC, and Re7.
Telegram Launches Managed Bots Feature for No-Code AI Agent Creation
Telegram introduced the Managed Bots feature, enabling users to build and manage personal AI agents through Bot API without any coding skills.
Bitcoin Down 2.5% Weekly: Jane Street Accusations & 7 Ethereum Forks
Bitcoin lost ~2.5% over the week amid macro shocks and geopolitical tensions. Jane Street faced market manipulation allegations while Ethereum unveiled an ambitious seven hard fork roadmap through 2029.
Bitcoin Drops Below $67,000 as Ethereum Foundation Unveils Quantum Defense Roadmap
Bitcoin lost 3% over the week amid Middle East tensions and ETF outflows, miner activity hit historic lows, and Ethereum Foundation outlined a four-hardfork plan for quantum resistance by 2029.
Telegram Wallet Launches Perpetual Futures Trading via Lighter DEX Integration
Telegram's built-in Wallet now supports perpetual futures trading with up to 50x leverage across 50+ assets, powered by decentralized exchange Lighter.
Crypto Wallet Launches $500,000 Rewards Program for Telegram Users
Telegram's built-in custodial Crypto Wallet has introduced a loyalty program called Wallet Rewards. The first season offers a $500,000 prize pool running from April 16 to May 20.