# Overview of the Fantom Blockchain and FANTOM Genomics Project

**Published:** 2026-06-12T12:00:09.923Z  
**Topic:** Fantom  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/b99f6a79-4872-4a3d-8336-a7437d662860

Explore the dual history of Fantom, a layer-1 blockchain platform for decentralized applications, and the FANTOM genomics research project from RIKEN.

Fantom refers to two distinct entities: a decentralized layer-1 blockchain platform designed for high-speed transaction processing and a long-standing international genomics research consortium [4]. While the blockchain project focuses on decentralized finance and smart contract scalability, the genomics project, established in 2000, centers on the functional annotation of mammalian genomes [4].

**Key takeaways**
* The Fantom blockchain, founded in 2018, utilizes a directed acyclic graph (DAG) consensus mechanism called Lachesis to achieve high throughput [4].
* The FANTOM genomics project was initiated at Japan’s RIKEN institute to annotate transcribed elements within human and mouse genomes [4].
* In August 2024, the Fantom Foundation rebranded to Sonic Labs, subsequently launching the Sonic mainnet in December 2024 [4].
* The blockchain’s native FTM token is used for transaction fees, governance, and staking, though the new Sonic network introduced an S token [4].

## Evolution of the Fantom Blockchain
The Fantom blockchain platform was founded in 2018 by South Korean software developer Ahn Byung Ik to address scalability limitations found in traditional networks like Ethereum [4]. By utilizing an asynchronous Byzantine fault tolerance (aBFT) protocol, the platform aims to support up to 10,000 transactions per second with finality under two seconds [4]. The ecosystem has hosted over 200 decentralized applications (dApps) spanning decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) [4]. 

The project has undergone significant structural changes, including a rebranding of the Fantom Foundation to Sonic Labs in August 2024 [4]. This transition culminated in the December 2024 launch of the Sonic mainnet, which features a native Layer-2 bridge to Ethereum and introduces the S token as the native asset, replacing FTM on a 1:1 basis, while the original Opera chain continues to support FTM [4]. Throughout its growth, the platform has faced technical hurdles, including network outages in early 2022 caused by high traffic and ongoing discussions regarding centralization risks due to its validator structure [4].

## The FANTOM Genomics Consortium
Separate from the digital asset space, the Functional Annotation of the Mammalian Genome (FANTOM) project began in 2000 under the leadership of Yoshihide Hayashizaki at the RIKEN institute in Japan [4]. Originally an extension of the RIKEN Mouse Encyclopedia Project, the initiative sought to catalog full-length cDNAs to better understand the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression [4]. Supported by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the project grew into an international collaboration involving over 100 researchers from approximately 30 institutions, including the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the University of California, Santa Cruz [4].

## Why it matters
The name "Fantom" represents two significant, albeit unrelated, contributions to technology and science. In the blockchain sector, the platform’s transition to Sonic Labs and the introduction of the S token mark a strategic shift toward improved interoperability and scalability within the competitive layer-1 landscape [4]. Simultaneously, the FANTOM genomics project remains a foundational effort in bioinformatics, having provided critical data on the complexity of the mammalian transcriptome that continues to inform post-genome-era research [4]. Both projects highlight the importance of specialized infrastructure—whether for decentralized transaction processing or large-scale biological data annotation—in their respective fields.

## Sources
1. The Motley Fool — [Which Is the Better Buy: Fantom or Cardano?](https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/02/04/which-is-a-better-buy-fantom-or-cardano/)
2. Dex — [fantom Wallet｜fantomの保管・送金・受取に対応した安全なfantom...](https://dex.gate.com/ja/wallet/fantom)
3. Shazam — [Fantom - Stik: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts](https://www.shazam.com/song/984621684/fantom)
4. Grokipedia — [FANTOM](https://grokipedia.com/page/fantom)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Overview of the Fantom Blockchain and FANTOM Genomics Project", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/b99f6a79-4872-4a3d-8336-a7437d662860