What is Fantom?
Fantom is a high-throughput EVM-compatible layer-1 blockchain that introduced the Lachesis directed acyclic graph (DAG) consensus protocol, enabling asynchronous Byzantine fault-tolerant finality typically within 1-2 seconds. The Fantom Foundation rebranded the chain and its associated token as Sonic in late 2024, migrating to a new higher-performance architecture while maintaining a conversion path for legacy FTM holders. Sonic (formerly Fantom Opera) is developed with a focus on DeFi and on-chain applications requiring low latency and predictable gas costs.
Fantom's original Opera mainnet distinguished itself from earlier EVM chains by replacing a traditional blockchain structure with a DAG-based aBFT consensus layer. Rather than validators agreeing on a single ordered chain, Lachesis allows each node to create event blocks that are woven together into a directed acyclic graph, with finality determined by when a sufficient number of validators have witnessed an event. This design was particularly attractive for DeFi applications where settlement speed matters — UniSwap forks, lending protocols, and yield aggregators proliferated on Fantom during the 2021-2022 DeFi boom, briefly pushing its TVL into the multi-billion dollar range.
The Sonic rebrand and technical overhaul stemmed partly from honest acknowledgment of Opera's scaling limits and partly from the fallout of key ecosystem departures: prominent developer Andre Cronje (founder of Yearn Finance and Solidly) left and returned multiple times, and his 2022 departure triggered a significant TVL exodus that exposed how concentrated Fantom's ecosystem value was in a small number of projects. The migration to Sonic introduces a new execution engine claiming ten-fold throughput improvements over Opera, a revised fee monetization model that shares transaction revenue with dApp developers, and a gateway bridge for ERC-20 assets. FTM holders can convert at a 1:1 ratio to the new S token.
Sources
Reviewed by the 2Bitcoins Editorial Team · Updated . Not financial advice.
Fantom FAQ
What is the relationship between Fantom (FTM) and Sonic (S)?+
Sonic is the rebranded and technically upgraded successor to the Fantom Opera mainnet. The Fantom Foundation launched Sonic in late 2024 with a new execution engine and fee structure. FTM token holders can convert to the new S token at a 1:1 ratio through an official upgrade gateway. The FTM ticker on exchanges is gradually being replaced by S.
How does Lachesis consensus work differently from a standard blockchain?+
Standard blockchains form a single linear chain of blocks with one leader proposing each block. Lachesis uses a directed acyclic graph (DAG) where all validator nodes continuously create and gossip event blocks, and finality is determined when enough validators have referenced an event in their own event blocks. This allows parallel event creation and typically achieves sub-2-second finality without a leader bottleneck.
Why is Fantom EVM-compatible if it uses a DAG consensus?+
Fantom separates consensus (Lachesis DAG layer) from execution (EVM layer). Transactions are finalized by Lachesis, but the execution environment is a full Ethereum Virtual Machine, meaning Solidity smart contracts deploy without modification and tools like MetaMask, Hardhat, and Ethers.js work natively. The DAG is purely a consensus mechanism, not visible to the execution layer.
Fantom key numbers
Where to buy Fantom
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Fantom Markets
| # | Exchange | Pair | Price | Volume (24h) | Trust |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FTM/EUR | $0.035735 | $2.68K | — | |
| 2 | FTM/USD | $0.039400 | $26.89 | — |