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What is Tron & How Does it Work? - TRX for Beginners

By Benson Toti - Updated 02 December 2022
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Tron is a popular blockchain-based operating system on which one can create decentralised applications, and share media content. The TRX token itself is used to gain access to certain features of the operating software on the Tron Protocol. Therefore the token’s main purpose is for use on the Tron network. However, it is still a store of value and can be traded on exchanges, therefore it can also be described as a virtual currency. 

TRX was first called Tronix, created in 2014 by Tron founder Justin Sun. It was actually in 2017 that he created Tron which was also the same year the Tron Foundation was established to maintain it.

In 2021 Justin Sun announced that the Tron foundation was to be dissolved and that Tron will be maintained by the community, although he’ll remain as the ambassador.

Originally TRX were ERC-20-based tokens, underpinned by the Ethereum blockchain but in 2018 they separated to become their own token with its own blockchain. In that same year, Tron acquired BitTorrent, the internet’s largest decentralized file-sharing site, which was a necessary step on their journey to creating a level media playing field on the internet.

TRX’s highest price was achieved in January 2018 when the coin reached an all time high of $0.30. It was ranked 17th in terms of market capitalization against other cryptos at the time of writing.

Table of Contents

Why Was Tron Invented?

Tron was invented with a clear purpose in mind: to help reward content creators more for their efforts. The way the media industry is structured at the moment is that a few big companies such as YouTube, Facebook and Apple have a massive degree over what media is viewed and put out on their sites. Not only do they control what can be seen, but they also receive the vast majority of the money generated by the media. The creators however only receive a small cut of the income. The platform was set up to correct this.  

By cutting out the middle-media-man, as it were, it is able to let viewers directly reward content creators via the Tron network and using the TRX tokens. Thus the media is owned wholly by the creator rather than in part by a large company.  

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How Does Tron Work and What Technology Is Behind It?

The network works on a few principles, the first being that all data on the network is free and not controlled by a central authority. Content creators are able to gain digital assets, in this case, the TRX token or other tokens which are underpinned by TRX, as a reward for their content.

As mentioned, it is possible for creators to create their own coins or tokens which can be used within their own Dapps on the network. These created tokens are underpinned by the main Tron token.

The final stages of the network development plan include the support of games on the network. These would be totally decentralised and users would be able to reward the creators directly if they enjoyed the game with their own digital assets.

Is Tron Real Money?

TRX can be used as a store of value, as an investment or you can trade Tron for other cryptocurrencies. As such it could be considered as ‘real money’. However the token’s main use is on the network in the creation of, and interaction with dApps.  

It is also possible to lock away the tokens to gain a reward known as ‘Tron Power’. This provides the holder with voting rights over decisions on the network as well as giving them a higher status. The longer a token holder locks away their tokens, the more TP they receive.

The current total circulating supply of Tron is 101.7 billion, with a total market cap of $6 billion

Fees & Expenses

There are no transaction fees for TRX, a remarkable feat, and the network is able to support 2000 of these feeless transactions every second. 

Purchasing TRX on a Tron exchange will, of course, incur some sort of fee as compensation for the exchange connecting you with a seller. Especially as TRX can only be purchased as a trade for other coins such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. As such, you will incur fees on purchasing these coins outright and then another fee for the trade to TRX. Always be sure to double-check the fees of cryptocurrency exchanges before you buy.

What Are the Benefits of Tron TRX?

Feeless – Transactions on the network are feeless.

Rapid transactions – Transactions are very fast, as the network can support up to 2000 a second. Such a capacity for transactions bodes well for the scalable future and the potential on the network for revolutionising online media. Compare this to other coins such as Ethereum (25 transactions) or Bitcoin (3-6 transactions) and it is clear to see what a feat this is.  

Able to create dApps – You can create dApps on the network. By creating a dApp on the network and offering content on it, you can receive digital assets in return. These can either be in normal TRX tokens or in a token you created that is underpinned by TRX. As such, you can be compensated for your efforts in creating the application and content within it. If you are not interested in creating dApps, then the vast array that has already been created is still there for your leisure.  

Able to directly support content creators – Tron believes it is important to support content creators more adequately and the network is a great way to do this. If you use the internet today in 2020 chances are you enjoy watching or looking at online media. The happiness that you receive by watching is made possible by content creators, therefore it is only fair that they are sufficiently supported for their efforts.

Can It Be Used Anonymously?

Tron transactions are anonymous, however, these are only on the network itself. The act of purchasing TRX, and the necessity of going through an exchange, means that you will have to prove your identity to purchase Tron tokens in the first place. Once on the network, however, transactions can be carried out anonymously. On the other hand, it should be noted that all blockchains maintain a record of transactions made on the chain. As such, no transaction is ever truly anonymous.  

How Safe Is It?

Tron has a secure reputation in the crypto world. The company spending on security and the personnel it has hired is indicative of this. Like other cryptocurrencies, as it is a decentralised network there is a large onus on the individual to be smart when it comes to looking after their tokens.  With regards to the network as a whole, it has yet to suffer a security scandal. 

What Teams Are Developing Tron?

The Tron development hub – This is an open-source project from the Tron Foundation that encourages any developer to join in and contribute. This can be done through the Tron Development Hub. Here, there is documentation that covers the protocol, how to set up nodes, smart contracts and how to develop dApps. The purpose of the hub is to be able to walk someone, with relatively little experience or knowledge, through the steps of not only how to use the network but how to engage and eventually shape it as well. 

What Financial Institutions Use Tron?

Refereum – This is a platform that allows gamers to earn TRX whilst they stream and viewers to earn rewards whilst they watch. The partnership is in keeping with Tron’s media focus as well as reflecting the huge potential gaming and blockchain integration could have. The main drive of their efforts is through the streaming service DLive, which Tron accessed through BitTorrent partnership with the service. 

Metal Pay – Metal Pay is an online payment service for sending money around the world and they have become partners. This means that users can now easily buy TRX tokens for cash through either the Metal Pay website or their app. This helps break down one of the barriers as adoption, which is the process of acquiring TRX that some people may have found difficult before. 

Samsung – Samsung has added Tron to their Blockchain Keystore. This means that Samsung users who have the latest versions of their phones are now able to access Tron dApps through the Samsung app store. This is a momentous achievement for the blockchain technology as new content creators are able to receive a reasonable amount of compensation for their efforts but also their dApps are now exposed to one of the largest app markets in the world.

Mining

TRX cannot be mined, instead, tokens can be gained by staking your existing tokens to help validate other transactions. By helping validate transactions, stakers will be paid a token creation or transaction fee. It should be noted that these digital assets paid are not being newly created, they already exist.

Tron Wallet

A Tron wallet is some software that can store TRX tokens. These come in many different forms and in fact, there are a number of wallets created by the community themselves, which are accessible on their website. Here are a few examples:

Whichever wallet you decide on will bring a different set of benefits vs drawbacks. Some are more portable while others offer more security. Make sure you conduct proper research before making a decision.  

Is Tron TRX Worth the Investment?

If you are interested in the potential of the Tron network, and the future of online media then it is a truly intriguing investment. The TRX tokens are a prerequisite to interact with the network, so in that sense, they could be a good investment, especially if you are an aspiring content creator or potentially just have a passion for media and would like to interact with all the dApps on the network.

However, it should be noted that as it is a cryptocurrency, the price of TRX is subject to fluctuations. At only $0.01 per token, they are not at the more pricey end of the crypto scale but the principles for investment stay the same.

Do adequate research before deciding to invest in Tron and never invest more than you are prepared to lose.  

Want to learn how to safely invest in Tron? Check out our comprehensive Tron buying guide here, cryptocurrency traders check the Tron trading page or purchase from our recommended platform below!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I buy Tron?
First, you will need to purchase a coin such as Bitcoin or Ethereum that can be bought with cash. Once you have purchased these coins you can then trade them on an online exchange to receive TRX. Check out our Tron buyer's guide for more information or take a look at the Tron price page for historical and prediction data.
What’s the best wallet?
This is really a personal question and it will depend on what you desire from a wallet. Do you want the securest wallet on the market? Do you want to be able to carry your wallet around with you and access it easily? Do you want a mix of the two? Your answer to these questions will dictate which wallet is ‘best’ for you. 
Can I mine Tron?
No, you cannot, however, you may stake those tokens that you own to help validate other people’s transactions. In return, you will be rewarded with more TRX. This is a consensus mechanism called proof of stake.The tokens were not created as they would be in a PoW (Proof of Work) system, and exist from the beginning. These would have been distributed by initial coin offerings and token sales.Within Tron's proof of stake system, stakers get to elect super representatives who will become the ones to validate transactions.
What are the fees?
There are no fees for transactions on the Tron network. This is a pretty amazing feat. Some dApps, however, will likely charge you a fee to use them or make a transaction within the application itself, but this is to be expected as the content creators need to be reimbursed for their work.Some fees will also be incurred in the process of obtaining your TRX by having to go through exchanges, as discussed above (on top of the original Tron price).
What are dApps?
dApp stands for ‘decentralised app’. Almost every kind of app you access in day to day life is an Apple, Windows or Android app. These apps are vetted by these companies and the majority of profits of these apps will go to the companies rather than the app’s creators themselves. dApps enable the creators to receive all of the digital assets that the apps generate, a fair payment for the effort and time they put into creating them.
What are smart contracts?
Smart contracts are pieces of code which automatically carry themselves out once their set conditions are met. In the case of cryptos, they remove the need for a third party to carry out a transaction, thus enabling decentralisation. Two parties may carry out a transaction totally independent of any middle man. Smart contracts alongside blockchain projects.
Should I invest in Tron?
This is an impossible question for this page to answer. Only you can come to the decision to invest in cryptocurrencies. It should be noted that prices are often volatile and there is potential to lose your money. Always do your research and never put in more than you can afford to lose.Check out our Tron price page for a deeper look.
Is TRON decentralised?
Yes. It is all about decentralising and putting the control of content back into the hands of the creators. To achieve this the network is decentralised allowing creators to own their own media without having to rely on a middleman to facilitate it reaching an audience.
What do people use TRON for?
People can earn and use TRON on a wide assortment of platform services. It is TRON’s exchange currency. The platform envisions empowering decentralized application creators to launch their currencies on the TRON protocol, and TRX will be the medium of exchange for the created currencies. Presently, many established businesses are already accepting TRON payments.
What merchants accept TRON?
  • AirbrushCustoms
AirbrushCustoms is a top online merchant that creates hand-painted custom airbrush designs. The art, fashion, and clothing company has created personalized T-shirts, hoodies, and hats in various styles for over ten years. They offer numerous design options that suit the varied needs of their customers.
  • HostingSSI
HostingSSI is an established provider of all the main hosting types. They also offer VPN, Anti Ddos, website builder, domains, SLL, and proxy services. Moreover, the team specializes in CSM hosting, including Joomla, Magento, and WordPress. The merchant uses CoinPayments as a payment gateway.
  • COIN.HOST
This merchant is a web hosting service provider from Switzerland. It is privacy-focused and specializes in high availability cloud hosting, VPS, DDoS protection, dedicated servers, and other related services. It also uses CoinPayments as a payment gateway.
  • Spheroid Universe
Spheroid Universe specializes in advertising, games, entertainment, and business. The company is best known for operating the geo-localized private property on the planet Earth’s digital surface.
How many TRON coins are available, what if they run out?
At the point of writing, the price of TRON is $ 0.027035. The reported circulating supply is 71,659,657,369 TRX and the total supply is 100,850,743, 812 TRX. From the figures, the resultant market cap is $ 1,937,353, 938. Since all TRON tokens have been released, the industry does not expect more new tokens. This may make the token scarce, which is essential for keeping its value high.Currently, the growth in the DeFi sector is driving the TRX price. This implies that TRON is a deflationary-based currency that you can hold to make good returns. Many people use the currency to buy various goods and services. The price may drop anytime, as it did in July 2019 after some bad press.

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