TEN is the native utility token of the TEN Protocol, an Ethereum Layer-2 rollup designed to support confidential smart contracts and encrypted transactions. TEN operates within a rollup architecture that preserves Ethereum compatibility while introducing data confidentiality through Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs).

The TEN Protocol allows smart contracts to execute with private shared state, meaning contract logic, inputs, and internal data are not publicly visible by default. This reintroduces data access control into decentralised systems, addressing a limitation of transparent blockchains where all transaction data is publicly readable. Transactions on TEN are encrypted before submission and remain confidential during execution, reducing exposure to front-running and other forms of Maximal Extractable Value (MEV).

The protocol is designed so that confidentiality does not compromise ledger integrity. If TEE guarantees fail, TEN degrades into a transparent execution model while preserving correctness and user balances. TEN is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine, allowing developers to deploy Solidity smart contracts with minimal changes.

TEN supports the core economic and operational functions of the TEN Protocol.

• Transaction fees: TEN is used to pay gas fees for executing transactions and smart contracts on the TEN Layer-2 network.
• Staking and network participation: Aggregator nodes stake TEN to participate in rollup creation, transaction sequencing, and consensus through the Proof of Block Inclusion (POBI) mechanism.
• Governance: TEN holders participate in protocol governance, including decisions related to network upgrades, attestation constraints, economic parameters, and security policies.
• Autonomous agents: AI agents deployed within TEEs can hold and spend TEN, enabling autonomous execution of transactions, contract interactions, and asset management.
• Economic incentives: TEN is used within reward pools that compensate network participants for processing transactions and maintaining network liveness, with mechanisms to burn excess tokens when applicable.

These functions align TEN’s utility with network security, activity, and long-term protocol operation.

TEN was created by the team behind the TEN Protocol. The project’s co-founders are:

• Tudor Malene, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
• Gavin Thomas, Co-Founder
• Cais Manai, Co-Founder and Head of Product

The wider core team includes contributors with experience in enterprise blockchain development, including architects involved in the creation of Corda, an enterprise distributed ledger platform used by financial institutions, insurers, and telecom providers. This background informs TEN’s focus on confidentiality, secure computation, and decentralised system design.