FAQ

What is TON Teleport?

TON Teleport is a decentralized, trustless bridge that enables users to securely transfer Bitcoin between the Bitcoin and TON blockchains without relying on central intermediaries. It ensures each BTC on TON is fully backed by real BTC on the Bitcoin network, allowing users to use BTC within the TON ecosystem for various DeFi applications, with full transparency and autonomy.

How does the process of transferring BTC to TON work?

The BTC transfer process through TON Teleport BTC allows users to send BTC from the Bitcoin network to TON in a secure, decentralized manner. First, users send BTC to a unique address linked to TON Teleport. After three confirmations on the Bitcoin blockchain, an equivalent amount of tgBTC is issued on the TON blockchain. Users can then use tgBTC within the TON ecosystem or convert it back by burning tgBTC, which releases BTC back to the user’s Bitcoin address.

Why does the address rotation occur every 4 hours?

The validator rotation every 4 hours in the TON ensures ongoing security and decentralization. This frequent rotation minimizes the risk of centralization or attacks, as it prevents prolonged control by any single validator set.

How does the unique address generation process work?

Each user receives a unique BTC deposit address linked to their TON account for secure BTC transfers in the peg-in process. The address updates every 4 hours, and BTC sent to an expired address won’t mint tgBTC. Refunds are possible only if a password or key was set; otherwise, funds are permanently lost.

Can tgBTC be sold to receive BTC back?

Yes, tgBTC can be sold to receive BTC back through the peg-out process in TON Teleport BTC. In this process, tgBTC is burned on the TON blockchain, and an equivalent amount of BTC is then transferred to the user’s Bitcoin address. This ensures a secure and decentralized way to redeem tgBTC for BTC without intermediaries.

What are the benefits of transferring BTC to TON?

Transferring BTC to TON provides the following benefits:

Autonomy: Users can independently verify all transactions without needing any central authority, ensuring full control over their assets.
Openness: All transaction data and code are publicly accessible, allowing for complete transparency and community-driven trust.
Censorship Resistance: The decentralized structure prevents any single entity from controlling or censoring transaction verification, reinforcing user freedom.
Incentivized Decentralization: The system is maintained by economically motivated, independent validators, ensuring a secure, decentralized environment for BTC transfers.

How does TON Teleport BTC achieve decentralization?

TON Teleport BTC achieves decentralization by employing a trustless, autonomous network structure with no need for intermediaries. Key elements include:

Validator Consensus: A decentralized network of validators manages key processes, including transaction verification, peg-in and peg-out functions, and cross-chain transfers. This collective consensus eliminates reliance on centralized entities.
Smart Contracts: Operations are executed and verified entirely by smart contracts, ensuring transparency and self-governance without human intervention.
Validator Rotation and Aggregated Signatures: Validators rotate every 4 hours, and distributed key generation is used for transaction signing. This ensures no single validator controls the network and enhances resilience against attacks.

What are the "peg-in" and "peg-out" processes?

In TON Teleport BTC, "peg-in" and "peg-out" are processes enabling secure transfer of BTC between the Bitcoin and TON networks without intermediaries:

Peg-in: Users transfer BTC from the Bitcoin blockchain to TON. This is done by sending BTC to a unique Bitcoin address tied to TON Teleport. Once confirmed on Bitcoin, an equivalent amount of tgBTC is minted on TON, allowing the BTC to be used within the TON network.
Peg-out: Users convert tgBTC back to BTC on the Bitcoin blockchain. This involves burning tgBTC on TON, after which a corresponding amount of BTC is sent to the user’s specified Bitcoin address.

How does TON Teleport BTC protect users from censorship and third-party interference?

TON Teleport BTC ensures censorship resistance and protection from interference by using a decentralized, trustless system with smart contracts and TON validators, eliminating central control. The absence of a centralized tgBTC issuer further secures its operation.

What risks and limitations exist with TON Teleport BTC?

TON Teleport BTC’s risks and limitations include:

Validator Rotation: Validator sets change every 4 hours, which may result in deposit address expiration if the peg-in process is not completed in time, potentially requiring a refund.
Delayed Withdrawals: Peg-out transactions are batched to reduce fees, which may delay BTC withdrawals if users need immediate access to funds.
Bitcoin Network Fees: Fluctuating BTC network fees impact transaction costs, especially for unaggregated, immediate peg-out requests.
User-Managed Refunds: Users need to choose a refund method and manage private keys or passwords for refunds on expired deposits, which may pose accessibility challenges.

What refund mechanisms are provided for expired BTC deposits?

TON Teleport BTC provides three refund mechanisms for expired BTC deposits:

Password Encryption: A private key is generated and encrypted with a password, allowing users to retrieve their BTC by decrypting the key if the peg-in process is incomplete.
Public Key-Based Refund: If users provide a Bitcoin public key, they can reclaim their BTC after a timeout using the corresponding private key.
No Refund: If neither option is set, funds are non-refundable if the deposit expires, which is only advised for experienced users.

Will other blockchains be supported in the future?

Yes, the architecture of TON Teleport BTC is designed to support additional blockchains in the future, enabling seamless and trustless interoperability across diverse blockchain ecosystems.

When will the TON Teleport BTC testnet end?

The TON Teleport BTC Testnet will run until 2025, targeting a mainnet transition in Q2 2025.