How to Access Websites on the Blockchain?

The idea of hosting and accessing websites directly on the blockchain might sound futuristic, but it's already happening—especially on networks like TON (The Open Network). In this guide, we'll walk through how to deploy a fully functional webpage on the TON blockchain, covering domain registration, frontend setup, and domain binding. We’ll also explore the current challenges and future potential of decentralized web hosting.

This hands-on exploration reveals how blockchain-based websites offer unique advantages over traditional DNS systems—especially in terms of censorship resistance and decentralization. While still in early stages, the technology shows promise for a more resilient internet.

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Why Build a Website on the Blockchain?

Recent disruptions in conventional domain name services have highlighted their vulnerabilities. Even trusted DNS providers can fail or be manipulated, raising concerns about centralization risks. This has led developers and tech enthusiasts to consider decentralized alternatives.

Hosting a website on the blockchain introduces several compelling benefits:

• Decentralized Control: No single entity governs the domain or content. Changes require consensus, reducing the risk of arbitrary takedowns.
• Built-in Security: Cryptographic verification is native to blockchain systems, eliminating the need for separate SSL/TLS certificates.
• Censorship Resistance: Once deployed, content becomes extremely difficult to remove without network-level coordination.

While still experimental, these features make blockchain-hosted websites an exciting frontier for digital sovereignty.

Step-by-Step: Deploying a Website on TON

Building a website on TON involves three main steps: purchasing a .ton domain, preparing your frontend, and binding the domain to your content. Let’s break down each phase.

Step 1: Buy a .ton Domain

Just like traditional domains (e.g., .com, .org), .ton domains serve as human-readable aliases—for blockchain addresses instead of IP addresses.

You can purchase a .ton domain at the official TON DNS portal. Domains are priced in TON cryptocurrency, with shorter names costing more—typically between 1 and 100 TON.

If a domain isn’t registered, you can place a bid. A countdown timer begins, allowing others to outbid you. Once the auction ends, the highest bidder wins. The domain is then stored in your wallet as an NFT, valid for one year before renewal.

Alternatively, you can buy existing domains from secondary NFT marketplaces.

Ownership gives you full control to update records, transfer, or resell the domain—just like any other digital asset.

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Step 2: Prepare Your Frontend Page

Next, create the actual website you want to host. For simplicity, this guide uses a basic HTML file served via Nginx. You’ll need a cloud server (like AWS, DigitalOcean, or VPS) to run your frontend.

This step mirrors traditional web development:

• Write your HTML/CSS/JavaScript files.
• Set up a web server (e.g., Nginx or Apache).
• Ensure your site runs locally and responds to HTTP requests.

No changes are needed in your codebase—blockchain handles routing; your server delivers content.

Step 3: Bind Your Domain to the Website

With your .ton domain secured, it’s time to link it to your server.

Use the TON DNS dashboard or command-line tools to bind your domain to an ADNL (Abstract Distributed Network Layer) address—an identifier similar to an IP address in Web2.

After binding, configure your server to communicate over TON’s network protocols. You’ll need to run rldp-http-proxy, a tool that translates HTTP requests from users into UDP packets compatible with TON’s RLDP (Reliable Lightweight Datagram Protocol).

Launch the proxy with:

rldp-http-proxy -p 8080 -c 3333 -C global.config.json

Here:

• 8080 listens for incoming HTTP queries.
• 3333 handles outbound/inbound RLDP and ADNL traffic.
• global.config.json contains network configuration (downloadable from TON’s repository).

Once active, your server becomes reachable through the TON network.

How Users Access .ton Websites

Typing a .ton address directly into a standard browser won’t work—browsers don’t natively resolve these domains. Instead, users must use special tools.

Understanding the Request Flow

When someone tries to visit your .ton site:

1. The system queries the TON blockchain to find the associated ADNL address.
2. This is analogous to DNS lookup but secured by smart contracts and cryptographic proofs.
3. The request is routed to your server via the proxy.
4. Your server returns the webpage.

The process mimics traditional DNS resolution—but with decentralized verification.

Access via Proxy Tools

The easiest way for users to access your site is through Tonutils Reverse Proxy. After installation, it runs locally and listens on port 8080. Users simply navigate to http://localhost:8080/yourdomain.ton.

This acts as a bridge between conventional browsers and the TON network.

Note: Some wallets flag .ton sites as potential phishing risks due to limited adoption and lack of trust indicators. This may affect user confidence until broader support emerges.

Current Challenges and Limitations

Despite its innovation, blockchain-based web hosting faces real hurdles:

• System Requirements: Requires glibc 2.34 or higher. Older Linux distributions may not support it without upgrades.
• Sparse Documentation: Guides are often incomplete or outdated—especially in non-English languages.
• Slower Load Times: Due to protocol overhead and fewer nodes, latency exceeds traditional web performance.
• Limited Wallet Integration: Most wallets don’t recognize .ton sites as safe, increasing friction for visitors.

These issues reflect the early-stage nature of the ecosystem—not fundamental flaws.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I access .ton websites without installing software?
A: Not reliably. While TON provides an embedded browser in some apps, most users need tools like Tonutils Reverse Proxy for full access.

Q: Are .ton domains permanent?
A: No. They’re leased annually and expire if not renewed. After expiration, they re-enter auction.

Q: Is hosting on TON more secure than traditional web hosting?
A: It offers different kinds of security—censorship resistance and tamper-proof records—but doesn’t inherently protect against malware or poor coding practices.

Q: Can I use HTTPS with a .ton website?
A: Not natively. Encryption comes from the blockchain layer, so traditional SSL certificates aren’t used—but data remains cryptographically secured.

Q: Do I need a node to host a .ton website?
A: No full node required. You only need a running server with the proxy tool connected to the TON network.

Q: Can I host dynamic content like databases or APIs?
A: Yes—but backend logic still runs off-chain. The blockchain only resolves the domain; everything else depends on your server setup.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Decentralized Web Access

While accessing websites on the blockchain isn’t seamless yet, the progress on TON demonstrates clear potential. As tooling improves and adoption grows, we may see wider integration with browsers and wallets.

For now, building on .ton is best suited for experimentation, personal projects, or applications where censorship resistance matters most.

The journey toward a truly decentralized web continues—and TON is paving one of the most accessible paths forward.

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