TON To Launch Payment Network Layer 2, Here’s Timeline

The Open Network (TON) has unveiled its roadmap for the first half 2025 with several key changes to the core chain. With nine updates, the protocol said it will launch a Layer-2 network this year. This will help enhance its functionalities while pushing it to compete with its counterparts like Ethereum.

The Payment Network Layer 2 Push

According to the roadmap highlight shared by the TON Core team, the payment network Layer 2 release is the fifth update to expect. The protocol hinted that scaling and supporting operations with 500 million active users remains its key priority.

As revealed, the TON layer one engine focused on scalability and decentralization, not speed and low cost. It plans to focus on these latter features with the payment network Layer 2. While it confirms that its current speed can support the needs of everyday users, it projects high-frequency transactions for the new chain. These high-frequency transactions include onchain trading and instant response gaming.

Specifically, TON Blockchain described the Payment Network layer 2 as allowing instant transfers with micro-commissions. In addition, the engine will allow for simple asset swaps. The TON CORE team revealed that Payment Network has reached the beta stage. 

However, it is currently testing and finalizing the prototype, adding support for jettons and extra currencies and adding support for swaps. These latter functions will be shipped to the next stage.

Key TON Blockchain Changes to Expect

Beyond the Payment Network L2, the TON blockchain plans to accelerate mainnet upgrade and release new validator tools. These two functionalities will complete its other plans, including a new Toncenter API, Research on Sidechains, a new version of TOLK 1.0, and Misc.

The TON Core team is bringing BIG updates in H1 2025! Here’s a sneak peek:

🔹 Huge “Accelerator” Kernel update on Mainnet
🔹New tools for validators
🔹Revamped Toncenter API (Actions, Pending, Emulation, Domains)
🔹 UX improvements + collab with top community products
🔹 Payment… pic.twitter.com/vDtg6w6HVn

— TON 💎 (@ton_blockchain) January 27, 2025

To drive accessibility to new chains, the TON Core team also plans to launch a TON BTC Teleport. It marked this as a powerful cross-chain solution to aid asset transfer to and from Bitcoin to TON. 

The protocol will not be the first chain to plot such moves with Bitcoin. As reported by Coingape, Charles Hoskinson has revealed that a Cardano-powered Bitcoin DeFi remains its core focus this year. Unlike the Cardano plan, TON blockchain will roll out this offering in H1 this year.

Toncoin Price To Benefit

Different innovations have been unveiled recently, such as a protocol with close ties with Telegram. Earlier this year, Telegram introduced third-party verification and NFT gift features on TON. 

This and other related innovations are poised to benefit Toncoin’s price. Once ranked among the top 10 digital currencies, TON has lost its valuation, dropping by over 40% from its All-Time High (ATH) of $8.24.

At the time of writing, TON’s price changed hands for $4.917, down by 3.73% in 24 hours. If it delivers on its roadmap, the coin may pare off its losses to chart a new uptrend.