> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://tron-energy.gitbook.io/tronzap/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://tron-energy.gitbook.io/tronzap/learning-hub/about-tron-blockchain.md).

# About TRON Blockchain

## What is TRON?

TRON is a high-throughput Layer 1 blockchain founded by Justin Sun in 2017. It was designed to support decentralized applications (DApps) and content sharing at scale, with a focus on high performance and low transaction costs. TRON has grown into one of the largest blockchain networks by transaction volume and total value locked.

## Key Technical Specifications

| Specification         | Value                           |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| Consensus             | Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) |
| Throughput            | \~2,000 TPS                     |
| Block Time            | 3 seconds                       |
| Base Transaction Fees | Near-zero                       |

The combination of DPoS consensus and optimized block production enables TRON to handle high transaction volumes while maintaining fast finality and minimal fees for users.

## TRX: The Native Token

TRX is TRON's native cryptocurrency. It serves several critical functions in the network:

* **Staking**: Users can stake TRX to earn rewards and participate in network security
* **Governance Voting**: TRX holders vote to elect Super Representatives (SRs) who produce blocks
* **Transaction Fees**: TRX is used to pay for bandwidth and energy costs when executing transactions
* **Base Currency**: TRX serves as the primary settlement currency for on-chain activity

## Token Standards

TRON supports multiple token standards:

* **TRC-20**: Fungible tokens, analogous to ERC-20 on Ethereum. TRON is one of the largest networks for USDT transfers, with many users choosing TRC-20 USDT for its low fees and fast settlement.
* **TRC-721**: Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for unique digital assets
* **TRC-1155**: Multi-token standard supporting both fungible and non-fungible assets in a single contract

## Account Model

Each TRON account is identified by an address starting with the letter **T**. An account can:

* Hold TRX and any TRC-20, TRC-721, or TRC-1155 tokens
* Execute transactions and interact with smart contracts
* Manage associated **resources**: Bandwidth and Energy

Bandwidth is consumed for basic transaction data transfer; Energy is consumed when executing smart contract operations. This resource model separates simple transfers from computationally intensive operations and enables predictable fee structures.

## Smart Contracts

TRON uses the **TRON Virtual Machine (TVM)**, which is compatible with Ethereum's EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine). Developers can write smart contracts in Solidity and deploy them on TRON with minimal modifications. This EVM compatibility has facilitated the migration of many DeFi protocols and DApps from Ethereum to TRON.

## TRON Governance

TRON's DPoS consensus is governed by:

* **27 Super Representatives (SRs)**: Elected block producers who validate transactions and produce blocks. SRs receive block rewards and voting rewards.
* **SR Partners**: Entities that support SRs and share in rewards
* **SR Candidates**: Nodes that compete to become Super Representatives through community voting

Token holders stake TRX to vote for their preferred SRs. Voting power is proportional to staked TRX, and the top 27 candidates by votes become Super Representatives.

## Architecture Overview

The following diagram illustrates TRON's layered architecture:

```mermaid
flowchart TB
    subgraph Application["Application Layer"]
        DApps["DApps"]
        DeFi["DeFi Protocols"]
        USDT["USDT Transfers"]
    end

    subgraph SmartContract["Smart Contract Layer"]
        TVM["TRON Virtual Machine (TVM)"]
        Solidity["Solidity Contracts"]
    end

    subgraph Core["Core Layer"]
        DPoS["DPoS Consensus"]
        Blocks["Block Production"]
        Resources["Resource Model (Bandwidth & Energy)"]
    end

    subgraph Network["Network Layer"]
        P2P["P2P Network"]
        Nodes["Node Communication"]
    end

    Application --> SmartContract
    SmartContract --> Core
    Core --> Network
```

## TRON's Resource Model and TronZap

TRON's resource model—Bandwidth and Energy—is what makes services like **TronZap** possible. By staking TRX or renting resources, users can obtain the Bandwidth and Energy needed to execute transactions without paying per-transaction fees. TronZap leverages this model to provide convenient resource management for TRON users.

For a detailed explanation of how Bandwidth and Energy work, see [TRON Resource Model](/tronzap/learning-hub/tron-resource-model.md).


---

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