[Crypto projects](https://revain.org/projects/) › Ontology

# Ontology (ONT): how it works, supply and reviews

## In short

- **Type**: Public blockchain with ledger accounts and smart contracts, focused on decentralised identity and data.
- **Maximum supply**: 1 billion ONT.
- **Risks and caveats**: Block production was paused twice in 2026 by coordination of the team and consensus nodes, so transactions could not be processed during those pauses.
- **Checked**: 1 November 2026

## Key facts

- **Ticker**: ONT
- **Official site**: [ont.io](https://ont.io/)

Key facts checked on 1 November 2026 against official sources.

## What is Ontology

Ontology is a public blockchain launched in 2017 that focuses on decentralised identity (ONT ID), reputation and data tools for Web3. It uses two tokens: ONT for staking and governance, and ONG for transaction fees. Its MainNet has run since 30 June 2018.

## Network and consensus

| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Public blockchain with ledger accounts and smart contracts, focused on decentralised identity and data. |
| Consensus | VBFT: proof of stake combined with a verifiable random function and Byzantine fault tolerance. |
| Launched | MainNet launched on 30 June 2018. |
| Smart contracts | Multi-VM support: EVM, NeoVM and WASM. |
| Nodes | Consensus (Triones) nodes are voted in by ONT staking; synchronisation nodes only sync blocks. |
| Programming language | Official node implementation in Go, open source under LGPL-3.0. |
| Fees | Fees are paid in ONG, from 0.05 ONG per transaction. |

## Supply and issuance

| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum supply | 1 billion ONT. |
| Issuance | ONG is released to ONT holders over time at a per-second rate that decreases every year. |
| Staking rewards | Staking ONT earns ONG rewards. |
| Decimals | Since the EVM upgrade ONT has 9 decimals and ONG 18. |

## What ONT is used for

- ONT is used for network governance voting and consensus node election.
- ONT is staked to generate ONG.
- ONG pays transaction fees, smart contract execution and dApp interaction costs.

## Who develops and governs Ontology

- **Developer**: Maintained by the Ontology core tech team and community members.
- **Governance**: Consensus management contracts update the consensus node list and VBFT parameters on chain.
- **Open source**: Source code on GitHub under the LGPL-3.0 licence.

## History

| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 27 November 2017 | Ontology officially launches in New York City. |
| 30 June 2018 | The Ontology MainNet goes live. |
| 10 July 2018 | The ONTO wallet goes live. |
| 9 July 2019 | Ontology publishes White Paper 2.0. |
| 1 March 2022 | Ontology EVM launches on the MainNet. |
| 31 August 2026 | Block production is suspended for a security review; the MainNet resumes on 2 September 2026. |
| 28 September 2026 | Ontology closes the stONT liquid staking service and refunds staked ONT. |
| 23 October 2026 | The MainNet is upgraded to v3.3.1. |

## Security and audits

- VBFT selects proposal, verification and confirmation nodes at random each round, which the docs say makes attacks harder to predict.
- In 2026 Ontology paused block production twice as a precaution: once after finding malicious attack activity targeting the network, and once over a risk in an ecosystem project.
- Ontology says its team will never message users first or ask for a seed phrase.

## Security incidents

| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 31 August 2026 | Network halt: Block production was suspended for a security review. On 1 September Ontology said it had identified malicious attack activity targeting the network and that no user assets were compromised; the MainNet resumed on 2 September 2026 after an upgrade. Funds returned: No user assets were compromised, per Ontology. | [t.me](https://t.me/s/OntologyAnnouncements/3919) |
| 10 October 2026 | Network halt: After an urgent report of a security risk in a project built on Ontology, the majority of consensus nodes agreed to suspend block production. Block production resumed on 12 October 2026; Ontology said no funds were lost from the Ontology network itself. Funds returned: No funds lost from the Ontology network itself, per Ontology; losses at the ecosystem project are not stated. | [t.me](https://t.me/s/OntologyAnnouncements/3925) |

## Risks and caveats

- Block production was paused twice in 2026 by coordination of the team and consensus nodes, so transactions could not be processed during those pauses.
- The October 2026 pause was linked to a security risk in a project built on Ontology; losses at that project are not stated.
- Average staking yield on the homepage is an estimate, and the stONT liquid staking service was closed in September 2026.

## Official links

- Website: [ont.io](https://ont.io/)
- Docs: [docs.ont.io](https://docs.ont.io/)
- Source code: [github.com/ontio/ontology](https://github.com/ontio/ontology)
- Block explorer: [explorer.ont.io](https://explorer.ont.io/)
- Blog: [ont.io/news](https://ont.io/news)
- Tokens: [ont.io/tokens](https://ont.io/tokens)
- Wallet: [onto.app](https://onto.app/)
- Announcements: [t.me/OntologyAnnouncements](https://t.me/OntologyAnnouncements)

## Questions and answers

**What is Ontology?**

Ontology is a public blockchain launched in New York City in November 2017, focused on decentralised identity and data. Its MainNet went live on 30 June 2018.

**What is the difference between ONT and ONG?**

ONT is used for governance voting, consensus node election and staking; ONG pays transaction fees and smart contract execution. Staking ONT earns ONG.

**What is the maximum supply of ONT?**

The documentation gives a total of 1 billion ONT.

**How does Ontology reach consensus?**

Ontology uses VBFT, which combines proof of stake, a verifiable random function and Byzantine fault tolerance. Consensus nodes are voted in by ONT staking.

**Has the Ontology network been halted?**

Yes. Block production was paused from 31 August to 2 September 2026 after malicious attack activity was found, and from 10 to 12 October 2026 over a risk in an ecosystem project. Ontology said no user assets were compromised in the first pause and no funds were lost from the network itself in the second.

## Sources

- [Ontology - Home](https://ont.io/)
- [Ontology - About Us](https://ont.io/about)
- [Ontology - ONT and ONG Tokens](https://ont.io/tokens)
- [Ontology Docs - Introduction](https://docs.ont.io/)
- [Ontology Docs - Consensus Mechanism](https://docs.ont.io/ontology-elements/consensus-mechanism)
- [Ontology Docs - Ontology token protocols (FAQ)](https://docs.ont.io/support/faq/token-protocols)
- [Ontology Docs - Nodes abstract](https://docs.ont.io/ontology-node/abstract)
- [Ontology Docs - EVM & Token Decimals Upgrade](https://docs.ont.io/guides-and-tutorials/evm-and-token-decimals-upgrade)
- [ontio/ontology on GitHub](https://github.com/ontio/ontology)
- [ontio/ontology releases](https://github.com/ontio/ontology/releases)
- [Ontology News - Mainnet Emergency Pause (31 August 2026)](https://ont.io/news/ontology-mainnet-emergency-pause-for-comprehensivesecurity-review/)
- [Ontology News - Mainnet Pause: Security Update (1 September 2026)](https://ont.io/news/ontology-mainnet-pause-security-update-and-network-upgrade/)
- [Ontology News - Mainnet Has Resumed (2 September 2026)](https://ont.io/news/ontology-mainnet-has-resumed-sync-nodes-required-to-upgrade-to-v3-1-5/)
- [Ontology Announcements (Telegram)](https://t.me/s/OntologyAnnouncements)
- [ONTO Wallet](https://onto.app/)

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Page updated: 2026-11-01

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Source: https://revain.org/projects/ontology/