Tron (blockchain)
| Original author(s) | Justin Sun |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | TRON-Foundation Ltd. |
| Initial release | 25 July 2018 |
| Development status | Active |
| Written in | Java |
| Platform | Tron |
| Available in | Multilingual, but primarily English |
| Type | Distributed computing |
| License | Open-source licenses |
| Website | tron |
Tron (stylized as TRON) is a decentralized, proof-of-stake blockchain with smart contract functionality. The cryptocurrency native to the blockchain is known as Tronix (TRX). It was founded in March 2014 by Justin Sun and, since 2017, has been overseen and supervised by the TRON Foundation, a non-profit organization in Singapore, established in the same year. It is open-source software.
Tron was originally an Ethereum-based ERC-20 token, which switched protocol to its own blockchain in 2018. On some cryptocurrency wallets, users can't withdraw their funds until they have enough amount for the network fee.
Tron has been criticised for enabling organized crime, with the Wall Street Journal stating in 2025 that it is a "popular channel for crypto’s criminal fraternity to move funds" and responsible for "more than half of all illegal crypto activity" in 2024, with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime calling it a “preferred choice for crypto money launderers” in Asia.