Tangle Network is a blockchain platform offering secure, decentralized infrastructure services. It functions as a decentralized cloud infrastructure governed by developers and its community. The platform incorporates advanced cryptographic techniques and a restaking mechanism, enabling the development of innovative solutions within a secure, decentralized framework. ^[1]

Overview

Tangle Network is a blockchain platform providing decentralized infrastructure services focusing on security and modularity. Its architecture allows developers to build and combine service components, or Blueprints, for applications such as oracles, bridges, and zero-knowledge solutions. A restaking model incentivizes contributions by rewarding developers for creating useful Blueprints and operators for staking assets to secure services. Key features include Actively Validated Services (AVS) for cryptographic and validator support, permissionless restaking to secure infrastructure with fungible assets, interoperability through technologies like MPC bridges and XCM, and EVM compatibility for seamless integration with Ethereum-based tools and applications. ^[2]

Features

Blueprints

Blueprints on the Tangle Network define specifications for Actively Validated Services (AVS) or Instances. Developers use the Gadget SDK to create Blueprints deployed on the network. Users can then create Instances of these Blueprints, which Tangle Operators operate. Operators are rewarded with TNT tokens and fees for invoicing and execution, while developers can specify additional incentives in the Blueprint to encourage operator participation.

Blueprint Instances, designed for reusable computational services, can run for varying durations, as specified by users or developers, and are secured by different operators and restaked assets. Each Blueprint includes a program binary and smart contracts for output verification and failure management and specifies its execution environment, such as native, virtual machine, or containerized setups. The Gadget SDK also supports building AVS directly on Eigenlayer, enabling developers to test and refine services while leveraging the SDK's features. ^[3]

Incentives

Tangle Network provides a platform for software monetization, allowing developers to deploy software as Blueprints and generate revenue through usage fees and rewards. When customers instance a Blueprint, fees are distributed among developers (50%), operators and restakers (30%), and the Tangle protocol treasury (20%), ensuring balanced incentives and platform sustainability. The network relies on three core economic mechanisms: transaction fees, proof-of-stake rewards, and restaking incentives. TNT is the primary asset for transactions, including EVM execution and Blueprint operations, with initial fee subsidies to encourage adoption. The nominated proof-of-stake consensus mechanism rewards validators and nominators, with approximately 4-5% APY for network participants. The restaking system enables earnings through TNT deposits and performance-based rewards for operators maintaining Blueprint instances. Developers can enhance security and customize fee allocations while aligning with the protocol's economic structure. ^[4]

Staking

Tangle's staking infrastructure comprises three components: the base nominated proof-of-stake (nPoS) mechanism for selecting validators, a native liquid staking protocol that supports validator-specific staking and liquid staked tokens (LSTs), and a shared security restaking system for Tangle Blueprints that utilizes various assets, including LSTs. ^[5]

• Nominated Staking: The nPoS system allows users to stake TNT on validators to secure the network and produce blocks. Validators must follow consensus rules and risk slashing if they fail. Stakers earn rewards proportional to their nominated stake. Additionally, operators in the restaking system must be Tangle validators with a minimum nominated stake to register Blueprints and handle service requests.
• Restaking: Restaking enables any asset on or bridged to Tangle, including liquid staked tokens (LSTs), to serve as collateral for securing on-demand service instances. Restaked assets are deposited into pools, representing single assets or baskets, and are collectively rewarded based on service usage. Users delegate their staked assets to operators who provide shared security. Operator misbehavior or service failure can result in slashing.
• Liquid Staking: Tangle develops liquid staking protocols that produce unique LSTs, identified by prefixes like "tg...," for specific staking actions, such as validator- or vault-specific operations. These tokens are not fungible across different actions and enable well-defined pools in the restaking system. This structure supports validators, node operators, and vaults by creating new opportunities to leverage these staking assets.

TNT

The Tangle Network's native token, TNT, functions as a gas token, payment medium, and primary restaking asset for Blueprints and restaked services. Under its nominated proof-of-stake (nPoS) consensus mechanism, validators stake TNT to validate blocks. At the same time, nominators can delegate TNT to validators to share in rewards and enhance their tokens-at-stake. TNT's dynamic minting and burning mechanisms support validator and nominator rewards, treasury funding, inflation management, and economic stability. In the restaking system, TNT facilitates secure and efficient interactions between job submitters and validators for computational services. The token also underpins slashing protocols to deter malicious behavior and enforces adherence to network rules. Additionally, TNT grants holders governance rights, enabling participation in decisions through referenda and ensuring the network's evolution aligns with community priorities. ^[6]

Tokenomics

TNT has a total supply of 100M and has the following allocation: ^[7]

• Treasury: 36.36%
• Webb (Developer): 30%
• Tangle Foundation: 15%
• Investors/Advisors: 13.64%
• Leaderboard: 2%
• EDG Genesis: 1%
• EDG Snapshot: 1%
• DOT Validator Snapshot: 1%

Governance

Tangle On-chain Governance allows token holders to participate in the decision-making process for network upgrades and protocol evolution. Governance roles include a council elected by token holders, which proposes referenda, vetoes harmful proposals and represents less active participants. Token holders can vote on referenda, propose changes, and elect council members. The system uses adaptive quorum biasing, adjusting proposal thresholds based on voter turnout, and ensuring fair representation. Governance supports decentralized protocol upgrades, including runtime changes, without requiring hard forks, maintaining continuous network functionality. ^[8]

Partnerships

• Hyperlane
• Webb
• Lemniscap
• Eigenlayer
• Polychain Capital
• Level
• Biconomy
• Orochi
• Glacis
• Sabiler
• Envio
• Router Protocol
• Den
• Sygma