Fantom (FTM) is a cryptocurrency made by Ahn Byung Ik in 2018. It is a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) based Smart Contract platform that aims to build the next IT infrastructure backbone for Smart Cities. The Fantom DAG platform is based on the Lachesis Protocol but is further optimized by introducing a permissionless network – the Fantom OPERA Chain – for dynamic participation.

Differing from blockchain, Fantom is a DAG-based distributed ledger technology stack that aims to solve the scalability issues of today’s distributed ledgers. The project is incorporating new methods of scalability combined with a high-performance virtual machine to safely and securely execute smart contracts. 

Fantom’s tagline is “The Nervous System for Smart Cities”. With this in mind, Fantom aims to innovate and provide IT infrastructure in the following sectors: public utilities, smart living, healthcare, education, traffic management, resource management, and environmental sustainability. The Fantom DAG platform intends on innovating these sectors by creating an interoperable ecosystem which allows real-time transactions and data sharing with low cost. Additionally, Fantom intends making all transaction bodies around the world compatible between each other by using fast DAG technology that can be deployed at scale in the real world.

The Fantom (FTM) token has a maximum supply of 3,175,000,000 FTM, a total supply of 1,987,133,655 FTM, and a circulating supply of 1,813,658,595 FTM. The Fantom platform has adopted an inflationary model to expand the ecosystem with an initial 5% annual inflation rate. The rate is said to decrease as more users join the network and 20% of total inflation is intended to be used for rewards and incentives for Fantom platform users. As for the token distribution, 40% of tokens were sold in the ICO, 30% are reserved for market development, 15% were distributed to advisors and contributors, and 15% is held by the Fantom team and founders.