Digital Freedom
TRON (TRX) is a layer-1 public blockchain network that aims to support decentralized internet infrastructure and digital asset applications. It was launched in 2017; with its early development team led by founder H.E. Justin Sun. TRON offers a powerful infrastructure for smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps) with high transaction speed and scalability. The network’s native utility token is TRX, which users use to pay transaction fees or earn network resources (bandwidth and energy), and participate in governance via staking.
In 2018, TRON launched its own layer-1 blockchain, completely decoupling from the Ethereum blockchain and establishing its own main network (MainNet). It has since expanded its ecosystem with the acquisition of BitTorrent and over the years has become one of the most widely used public blockchains in the world. For example, TRON, which exceeded 100 million user accounts by 2022, became one of the leading global networks in stablecoin transfers and transaction volume with over 353 million accounts in 2025.
In this report, we will share with you the fundamentals of TRON, its origins, and ecosystem.
Fundamentals of TRON
The TRON blockchain is built on a three-tier architecture. At the bottom is the Storage Layer, in the middle is the Core Layer, and at the top is the Application Layer. This structure allows TRON to efficiently manage block data, smart contract code and decentralized applications.
Developers can create their own tokens via the TRC-10 and TRC-20 token standards. Thanks to these standards, which were introduced at the end of 2018, the TRON network has transformed into an ecosystem where stablecoins and other digital assets can be easily developed and distributed.
As a result, TRON stands out as one of today’s most efficient blockchain platforms with its three-layer architecture, high transaction capacity, low-cost transaction model and strong token standards.
TRON’s Development Timeline (2017-2025)
2017
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Founding and ICO
The TRON Foundation was founded in Singapore in July 2017 under the leadership of Justin Sun. The ICO in August raised approximately $70 million, creating a strong capital base for the project.
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Open-Source Code
In December 2017, the TRON protocol was open sourced and made available to developers and the community. This was the beginning of a transparent and participatory roadmap.
2018
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Testnet and MainNet
In March 2018, the Shasta testnet was released, and in May, TRON’s independent MainNet was officially launched with the Odyssey 2.0 release.
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Independence Day
In June 2018, TRON launched its independent MainNet, marking its transition from an earlier ERC-20 based test phase to its own blockchain network.
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Super Representatives and DPoS
The TRON Foundation was founded in Singapore in July 2017 under the leadership of Justin Sun. The ICO in August raised approximately $70 million, creating a strong capital base for the project.
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BitTorrent Acquisition
With the acquisition of BitTorrent in July, TRON made a strategic expansion into content distribution.
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TRON Virtual Machine (TVM)
In October 2018, the Ethereum-compatible TVM went liveand developers began writing smart contracts on TRON with Solidity.
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Resource Management and Token Standards
In November, the resource delegation feature was introduced with Odyssey v3.2. By the end of the year, TRON reached 1 million users and TRC-10 and TRC-20 token
standards became the cornerstones of the ecosystem.
2019
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Protocol Updates
Odyssey v3.5 was released in March 2019 and v3.6.5 in October. These updates provided significant improvements to account security, staking and governance processes.
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Launch of TRC-20 USDT
TRC-20 USDT was launched in collaboration with Tether. The low-cost and fast transfer advantage quickly made TRON the leading network for stablecoin transfers.
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BitTorrent Token (BTT)
BTT was launched in February 2019. With the integration of the BitTorrent ecosystem into the TRON network, millions of users joined the blockchain economy.
2020
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Reaching 10 Million Users
As of September 2020, the total number of accounts exceeded 10 million. TRON has become the preferred choice, especially for payments and remittances.
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TRON 4.0 “Great Voyage”
This July 2020 update introduced zk-SNARK-based privacy features and integrated BitTorrent File System (BTFS) and decentralized storage infrastructure into the network.
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Birth of the DeFi Ecosystem
With the USDJ stablecoin, the JustSwap exchange and the JustLend loan protocol, TRON enters the decentralized finance space.
2021
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Stablecoin Leadership
In May 2021, TRC-20 USDT supply exceeded $30 billion. TRON became the global leader in terms of stablecoin transfer volume.
- NFT and APENFT
The TRC-721 NFT standard and APENFT platform came into play, making TRON part of the NFT ecosystem.
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Transition to DAO
In December 2021, the TRON Foundation was dissolved, and network governance was transferred to the community driven TRON DAO.
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BitTorrent Chain (BTTC)
BTTC launched its testnet in October, connecting TRON with networks such as Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain, enabling multi-chain interoperability.
2022
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100 Million Users
In June 2022, TRON reached 100 million users.
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USDD Launch
In May, TRON DAO Reserve launched a decentralized algorithmic stablecoin called USDD.
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Dominica Partnership
In October, the government of Dominica declared TRON the country’s official blockchain and TRX and TRC-20-based assets were recognized as legal tender.
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Stake 2.0 and Technical Improvements
New staking model, libp2p-based communication infrastructure and improved TVM went live.
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Record Activity and Deflation
TRON shifts to deflationary model for the first time as TRC-20 USDT supply skyrockets and transaction fees burn.
2024
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Peak as a Stablecoin Network
USDT supply surpassed $70 billion, making TRON the backbone of the industry for stablecoin transfers.
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Tokenomic Improvements
Network fees and burn rates were reorganized, shifting TRX towards a deflationary model.
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Security and Compliance
TRON, in partnership with Tether and TRM Labs, established the T3 Financial Crime Unit to crack down on illegal activity on a global scale.
2025
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300 Million Users
As of April 2025, the number of users exceeded 300 million. TRON has become one of the global leading blockchains in terms of daily transactions.
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Future-Focused Steps
Increasing interoperability between networks, establishing new government collaborations, and exploring AI integrations were among TRON’s primary goals.
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Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
