| TON | Toncoin (TON) is the native cryptocurrency of The Open Network (TON), a decentralized blockchain created for fast transactions and convenient integration with the Telegram ecosystem. |
| Gas | Transaction fees required to execute operations on a blockchain network, used to compensate validators for processing and validating transactions |
| Proof-of-Stake (PoS) | A consensus algorithm that uses token collateral instead of computing power: validators lock their tokens as a stake to participate in block production and earn rewards. |
| Proof-of-Work (PoW) | A consensus algorithm where network participants compete to solve complex cryptographic puzzles using computing power to gain the right to add a new block and receive a reward. |
| Staking | The process of locking tokens to support the operation and security of the network in exchange for rewards. |
| Mining | The process in which computers solve complex problems to add a new block to the blockchain. The first to solve the problem receives a reward in the form of cryptocurrency and transaction fees. |
| Validator | A node (server) in a blockchain that verifies and adds blocks, locking its own coins as collateral (stake). |
| Nominator | A participant who delegates their tokens to a validator in order to take part in staking and share in the rewards. |
| Staking pool | A group of participants who combine their TON for joint staking to increase the chances of earning rewards and to lower the entry threshold. |
| Cycle | A fixed time period of 36 hours during which validators in the TON network perform block validation and production, after which rewards are calculated and distributed among staking participants. |
| Voting | The decision-making process by TON validators to change blockchain configuration parameters, including the number of validators and other system settings. |
| Queue | An independent group of staking participants within a single pool, formed to optimize user experience in TON’s two-cycle system. Each staking pool operates two queues offset by 18 hours. |
| Smart contract | A program that automatically executes and enforces agreement conditions on a blockchain. Its code is stored and executed on the network, without intermediaries, according to predefined rules. |
| Blockchain | A distributed database consisting of a chain of blocks, each containing a cryptographic link to the previous one |
