April 24, 2025
Introduction
In blockchain ecosystems, token airdrops serve as a common mechanism for token distribution and community engagement. However, traditional airdrop implementations face several significant challenges:
- High Transaction Costs: Each airdrop recipient requires an individual minting transaction
- Network Scalability Issues: Large-scale airdrops create network congestion
- Centralized Control Requirements: Projects must maintain centralized distribution systems
These limitations create significant operational constraints for airdrop implementations, particularly for projects with large-scale user bases or limited resources.
What is Mintless Jetton?
Solution Overview
TON blockchain introduces Mintless Jetton, an innovative protocol that extends TEP-74 (TON Jettons Standard) through TEP-177 (Mintless Jettons Standard) and TEP-176 (Custom Payload Offchain Source for Jettons). The protocol enables efficient token distribution through Merkle proof verification, eliminating the need for individual minting transactions.
The protocol leverages cryptographic Merkle proofs to validate airdrop claims, significantly reducing operational costs while maintaining security and scalability.
Core Benefits
- Cost Optimization: Eliminates per-recipient minting transactions
- Enhanced Scalability: Supports large-scale distributions without network congestion
- Cryptographic Security: Implements tamper-proof claim verification via Merkle proofs with double-claim prevention
- Decentralized Architecture: Removes dependency on centralized distribution systems
Technical Architecture
The Mintless Jetton protocol comprises two primary smart contracts and a Merkle tree verification system.
Core Contract Components
Jetton Minter Contract
- Manages total token supply and minting operations
- Stores Merkle root for airdrop verification
- Handles administrative functions and contract upgrades
- Maintains metadata URIs for Merkle dump and API endpoints
Jetton Wallet Contract
- Manages individual user token balances
- Processes token transfer operations
- Implements airdrop verification and processing logic
- Maintains wallet state (balance, owner address, and airdrop status)
System Architecture
The Jetton Minter contract functions as the master contract, deterministically deriving and managing multiple Jetton Wallet contracts. Each wallet maintains its own isolated state while sharing a common Merkle root for airdrop verification. This one-to-many architecture enables scalable token distribution and efficient transfer operations across the network.
Merkle Tree System
The protocol utilizes a Merkle tree for efficient airdrop data storage, with the root hash stored in the Jetton Minter contract. This design provides:
- Data Integrity: Cryptographic verification of airdrop eligibility
- Storage Efficiency: Minimal on-chain data requirements
- Verification Performance: Logarithmic complexity for proof validation
Data Structure
The Mintless Jetton protocol utilizes several specialized data structures to manage token distribution and claims efficiently.
Token Configuration
Airdrop Data Structure
Claim Operation
Operational Flow
The Mintless Jetton protocol extends standard Jetton functionality by incorporating Merkle proof verification for airdrop operations while maintaining compatibility with existing Jetton features.
Standard Jetton Operations
Mint Operation (opcode=0x642b7d07)
- Restricted to admin access
- Manages supply adjustments
- Handles destination wallet creation
Transfer Operation (opcode=0x178d4519)
- Implements balance validation
- Supports custom payloads
- Manages forward message handling
Burn Operation (opcode=0x595f07bc)
- Controls supply reduction
- Verifies owner authorization
- Handles master contract notifications
Administrative Functions
- Admin transfer (opcode=0x6501f354)
- Metadata management (opcode=0xcb862902)
- Contract administration
Airdrop Operations
Airdrop Setup
Merkle Tree Generation
- Builds tree from airdrop data
- Each leaf: {address, amount, start_from, expire_at}
- Calculates and stores root hash in minter
Off-chain Distribution
- Uploads Merkle dump to IPFS/Storage
- Configures metadata URIs
Claim Process
Proof Acquisition
- Requests claim proof from custom payload API
- API returns custom payload for claim operation
Proof Validation
- Verifies Merkle proofs against stored root
- Checks time window: start_from ≤ now ≤ expire_at
- Ensures no previous claims exist
Proxy Implementation: Enabling Mintless Airdrops for Standard Jettons
The Merkle proof airdrop concept can be applied to existing Jetton implementations through a proxy pattern. This approach enables standard Jettons to leverage efficient airdrop capabilities without modifying their core contracts.
Proxy Contract Components
Unlike native Mintless Jettons, where claims are executed directly within the Jetton Wallet, this implementation introduces two dedicated contracts to bridge standard Jettons with Merkle proof functionality:
Airdrop Controller
- Stores Merkle root for airdrop verification
- Assumes ownership of the original Jetton Minter
- Validates claim requests from Claim Wallets
- Triggers minting operations on the original Jetton Minter
Claim Wallet
- Implements claim interface for users
- Verifies Merkle proofs against the Airdrop Controller’s root
- Implements claim status tracking to prevent double-claiming
- Forwards validated claims to the Airdrop Controller
System Architecture
The proxy implementation introduces an Airdrop Controller that retains ownership of the original Jetton Minter while orchestrating multiple Claim Wallets. Each Claim Wallet is mapped to a corresponding original Jetton Wallet, enabling seamless integration of Merkle-based airdrop functionality into existing token systems.
Claim Process Flow
- User initiates claim through their Claim Wallet
- Claim Wallet verifies the Merkle proof and claim status
- If unclaimed, the request is forwarded to the Airdrop Controller
- Airdrop Controller validates the request’s origin from a legitimate Claim Wallet
- Upon validation, Airdrop Controller triggers token minting on the original Jetton Minter
Key Advantages
- Non-Invasive Integration: Enables Merkle-based airdrops functionality without modifying existing Jetton contracts
- Security Preservation: Maintains original contract security while adding new functionality
- Flexible Deployment: Can be applied to any existing Jetton implementation
Conclusion
Mintless Jetton represents a significant advancement in token distribution on TON blockchain. Through Merkle proof verification, it effectively addresses traditional airdrop challenges of high costs, limited scalability, and centralized management.
The Merkle proof concept offers versatility in two distinct applications. For new projects, it provides a complete tokenization framework with built-in efficient distribution capabilities. For established tokens, the proxy implementation pattern enables these same benefits without modifying existing contracts. This technical flexibility accelerates the adoption of cost-effective airdrop mechanisms across the TON ecosystem.
About TONX Eng
Our research division specializes in TON blockchain research and development, focusing on advancing TEPs, DeFi innovations, and meme ecosystems. We share technical insights and empower developers with enterprise-grade blockchain solutions.
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