Contracts 
IOTA is an open-source blockchain that serves as public digital infrastructure to connect global
economies onchain.
Built on a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) architecture that integrates the Move VM, IOTA enables smart
contracts, digital assets, and digital identity to operate directly on a scalable, permissionless Layer 1.
Its modular design supports parallel transaction processing, low transaction costs, and
application-level fee sponsorship, providing a streamlined pathway to market adoption.
IOTA is already used in live, real-world environments, including a strategic focus on digital trade and
supply-chain infrastructure. Through collaborations with governments, global institutions, and industry
partners, IOTA supports initiatives that range from digitalized trade documentation, digital product
passports, business identity, and asset flows across borders. Flagship deployments such as the Trade
Worldwide Information Network (TWIN) embed IOTA into national and cross-border trade systems,
enabling shared, verifiable data and coordinated processes across complex networks of public and
private actors.
The IOTA network is secured by a delegated proof-of-stake model and governed through onchain
mechanisms aligned with long-term network sustainability. The $IOTA token is used for network
participation, staking, and validator rewards, while onchain activity requires tokens to be paid and
burned as fees. Additional mechanisms such as refundable storage deposits and sponsored
transactions allow applications to manage costs and abstract blockchain complexity from end users,
supporting adoption in regulated and institutional contexts.
Founded in 2015, IOTA is one of the longest-running projects in the digital asset space and is guided
by the non-profit IOTA Foundation, headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Developed as public digital
infrastructure, IOTA focuses on trust, interoperability, and deployment at scale across global economic
systems.
