IOTA is a decentralized ledger tailored for the Internet of Things (IoT), utilizing a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure called Tangle instead of a traditional blockchain. This unique architecture allows IOTA to offer fee-less and highly scalable transactions, positioning itself as a key player in the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) economy, enabling seamless payments and data exchanges between devices without intermediaries.
Founded by Sergey Ivancheglo, Serguei Popov, David Sønstebø, and Dominik Schiener, IOTA began its journey in 2014 (as Jinn) and launched its network officially in 2016. It continues to evolve as a critical infrastructure for secure, real-time, and scalable microtransactions in the IoT space.
In 2024, IOTA achieved several key milestones, further solidifying its role in the IoT ecosystem. In May 2024, the IOTA 2.0 Testnet was launched, introducing a fully decentralized consensus mechanism, replacing the coordinator system, and enhancing scalability while reducing environmental impact. This was followed by the integration of Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZK) verifiable credentials in IOTA Identity, enabling privacy-focused identity solutions for IoT applications. In June 2024, IOTA took a significant leap by launching its EVM-compatible mainnet, supporting smart contracts and cross-chain interactions while introducing enhanced security features like miner extractable value (MEV) protection. These developments have further expanded IOTA’s utility in DeFi and its broader vision of the machine economy.
Above are only for introduction, not intended as investment advice.