What Is IOTA?

1. What Is IOTA?

IOTA is a decentralized, open-source distributed ledger built for the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. It operates on a revolutionary architecture called the Tangle—a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)—which allows for feeless, fast, and scalable transactions. Unlike traditional blockchains, IOTA doesn’t rely on miners or blocks, making it lightweight and energy-efficient. Its core value lies in enabling secure, real-time data and value transfers between connected devices.

2. Why IOTA Was Created

IOTA was created to solve the inefficiencies of traditional blockchain systems, especially for IoT environments. Blockchains suffer from high fees, slow transaction speeds, and poor scalability—obstacles that limit their effectiveness in machine-to-machine communication and data logging. IOTA was designed to:

• Eliminate transaction fees that prevent micro and nano-payments.
• Scale effectively as the number of users and devices increases.
• Enable secure, decentralized data exchange across industries.
• Support low-energy operations for resource-constrained devices.

3. How IOTA Works

1. A user or IoT device initiates a transaction on the IOTA network.
2. To complete the transaction, the sender must validate two previous unconfirmed transactions.
3. A small amount of lightweight proof-of-work is performed by the sender.
4. The transaction is then added to the Tangle and propagated through the network.
5. IOTA’s tip selection algorithm selects two other transactions to confirm.
6. As more transactions approve it, the original transaction gains confirmation and finality.

4. Key Features of IOTA

• Unique Tangle DAG technology that replaces traditional blockchains
• Feeless transactions enable micro and nano-payments
• Scales with increased network activity instead of slowing down
• Low power requirements ideal for IoT devices
• No miners or central validators—true decentralization
• Masked Authenticated Messaging (MAM) for secure, encrypted data streams
• Support for smart contracts and asset tokenization

5. Who Can Use IOTA?

• IoT device manufacturers enabling automated, feeless payments
• Enterprises optimizing supply chains with verifiable data tracking
• Smart city infrastructure managing sensor data and communication
• Developers building decentralized apps and smart contracts
• Retail users sending fast, free peer-to-peer payments
• Governments and NGOs needing secure, transparent data collection

6. What Is the $MIOTA Token?

$MIOTA is the native token of the IOTA network. It is used to transfer value across the Tangle and supports various functions within the ecosystem. Key uses include:

• Enabling feeless payments across devices and platforms
• Staking and incentivizing participation in IOTA’s extended networks (e.g., Shimmer)
• Accessing data streams and decentralized IoT services
• Participating in governance and community decisions (future roadmap)
• Interacting with tokenized assets and smart contracts on IOTA’s DeFi stack