TON Blockchain Experiences Brief Outage Due to Masterchain Error

The Open Network (TON), an independent layer-1 blockchain with a symbiotic relationship with the Telegram messaging platform, experienced a brief outage on June 1 that halted block production. The issue was identified at 12:51:00 UTC and resolved approximately 40 minutes later. TON developers released a quick fix, updating only a few master chain validators to resume block production. The incident was attributed to an error in the processing of the masterchain dispatch queue. The team assured users that no funds were affected by the outage and that transactions submitted during the downtime were not at risk of loss.

Blockchain network outages typically affect higher-throughput, high-speed blockchains due to the increased technical complexity of these chains. As the sophistication of blockchain networks increases, brief outages may become more common, potentially impacting consumer confidence in cryptocurrencies. TON experienced several outages in 2024 caused by high demand for the DOGS memecoin, which created network congestion that forced a chain halt. In August 2024, TON experienced several brief outages caused by high demand for the DOGS memecoin, which created network congestion that forced a chain halt. The first outage on August 27 halted block production at workchain block 45,341,899. The network downtime lasted for several hours before validators reset their nodes at 4:00 AM UTC to restore network consensus. At 5:30 AM UTC functionality was briefly restored before the network crashed again hours later, once again due to high traffic from users minting DOGS memecoins on the TON blockchain. TON experienced another brief outage the following day on August 28, with block production halting at workchain block 45,350,522. This second outage lasted for roughly six hours before the issue was fixed, and block production resumed on August 28.

Despite the brief network outages, TON continues to attract retail interest and institutional investment, particularly from large, well-known players in the digital asset space. In March 2025, TON raised $400 million from venture capital firms, including Sequoia Capital, Draper Associates, CoinFund, SkyBridge and others. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of continuous monitoring and maintenance in blockchain networks. While blockchain technology is designed to be decentralized and resilient, it is not immune to technical issues. Regular updates, security audits, and proactive monitoring are essential for ensuring the smooth operation of blockchain networks. TON's response to the outage demonstrates its commitment to these best practices, which are crucial for maintaining the network's reliability and security.