Toncoin recorded a sharp price increase after a major network upgrade improved transaction efficiency.
The TON blockchain introduced a new consensus mechanism aimed at accelerating processing speeds.
Market participants responded quickly as performance metrics showed measurable gains. The development also signaled broader ambitions for scaling the ecosystem and enhancing usability.
Catchain 2.0 upgrade drives Toncoin network speed and validator rewards
According to Pavel Durov, Catchain 2.0 marked a fundamental shift in TON’s transaction processing capabilities. He stated that the upgrade reduced block generation time to 400 milliseconds from the previous 10 seconds.
Payment transactions now settle in about one second, while decentralized applications operate closer to traditional app speeds.
Validators approved the upgrade during an April 8–9, 2026, vote, after which the system went live.
Exchanges, including Binance and Bithumb, conducted wallet maintenance to support the transition.
The main chain block reward remains fixed at 1.7 TON. However, faster block production increases validator earnings per cycle.
Durov explained that the upgrade forms the first phase of a seven-stage roadmap. He added that the next phase will target lower transaction costs, potentially reducing fees by six times.
The network’s inflation rate will rise from 0.6% to 3.6% due to higher block frequency.
Ecosystem expansion and market activity support growth
TON’s ecosystem continues to expand alongside the upgrade. Rakuten Wallet confirmed it will list Toncoin for spot trading on April 15, 2026.
The move opens access to Japanese retail traders through a regulated platform. Meanwhile, the TON Foundation partnered with SCRYPT to introduce Swiss-regulated USDT functionality for corporate users.
Fireblocks and Dynamic also launched enterprise wallet solutions tailored for Telegram-based financial services.
Future developments include the TON Teleport Bridge for Bitcoin interoperability and TON Pay 2.0, both expected by mid-2026.
Toncoin traded near $1.2868 on the upgrade date after rising over 5% to about $1.30. Technical indicators showed strength as the price moved above Alligator trend lines at $1.2620, $1.2509, and $1.2477.
The MACD indicator turned positive, with the signal confirming upward momentum.
Immediate resistance stands at $1.3168, with potential upside toward $1.34–$1.36 and $1.40. Support remains near the $1.25–$1.26 range.
Trading volume surged more than 35% to $130.1 million, while market capitalization reached $3.17 billion.
Santiment reported that the top 100 Toncoin wallets accumulated 189,730 TON tokens over three months.
This accumulation occurred despite the asset declining significantly from its August 2025 peak.
Toncoin market outlook
Toncoin shows a broader downtrend, with consistent lower highs and fading bullish momentum.
Price is consolidating sideways near $1.28, indicating reduced volatility after recent selling pressure.
Short-term candles suggest a potential base forming, but no strong breakout confirmation yet.
TON 1-day price chart, Source: TradingView
The RSI is near 55, reflecting neutral conditions with a slight bullish tilt. It remains below overbought levels, leaving room for further upside if momentum builds.
Meanwhile, MACD shows a mild bullish crossover, with the histogram turning positive.
However, momentum remains weak, suggesting the move lacks strong conviction.
