Overview
Viction, originally launched as TomoChain in 2018, is an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain that rebranded in late 2023 to refocus its identity around a gasless, user-friendly Web3 experience. The chain uses a Proof-of-Stake Voting (PoSV) consensus mechanism with 150 masternodes and is designed for fast, low-cost transactions. The key differentiator is the zero-gas protocol, which allows DApp operators to sponsor gas fees on behalf of their users, removing a major friction point for mainstream adoption.
The VIC (formerly TOMO) token serves as the native currency for staking, masternode operation, and network governance. Viction targets both consumer-facing DApps and enterprise applications with its gasless infrastructure. The project originated in Vietnam and has maintained a strong presence in the Southeast Asian crypto ecosystem, with partnerships across fintech and gaming sectors in the region.
Founded by Long Vuong, a former early contributor to the NEM blockchain, Viction has evolved through multiple strategic pivots since its 2018 launch, with the rebrand being the most significant repositioning effort to date.
Technology
Viction is built on a modified Ethereum codebase with the PoSV consensus supporting 2-second block times and throughput of around 2,000 TPS. The zero-gas-fee protocol (powered by the Viction Issuer feature) allows token issuers and DApp developers to pay gas fees on behalf of users using the TRC-21 token standard. This is a meaningful UX improvement over chains where end-users must hold native tokens for gas. The network also supports cross-chain bridges (Viction Bridge) and has integrated with major wallets. However, the core technology does not introduce substantial innovations beyond the gasless mechanism, and the execution layer is standard EVM.
Security
Viction's PoSV consensus with 150 masternodes provides a reasonable security foundation. Masternodes must stake a minimum of 50,000 VIC, creating economic skin-in-the-game. The network has operated since 2018 without a major security breach, demonstrating operational resilience. Double-spending protection and slashing mechanisms are implemented for misbehaving validators. However, the masternode requirement creates a plutocratic element where wealthier participants have disproportionate influence. Smart contract security relies on standard EVM audit practices.
Decentralization
The 150-masternode model provides better decentralization than many comparable chains, though it is fixed and not dynamically expanding. Token-weighted voting for masternode selection means stake concentration directly translates to consensus influence. The Viction Foundation and early investors hold significant VIC, which influences governance outcomes. The transition from TomoChain to Viction has been largely foundation-driven, with limited community governance input on major strategic decisions. Geographic and entity diversity among masternodes is unclear.
Ecosystem
Viction's ecosystem is modest. Key DApps include LuaSwap (DEX), various NFT platforms, and gaming integrations. The rebrand aimed to reinvigorate ecosystem growth, but TVL and active user counts remain low relative to competing L1s. Developer activity, measured by GitHub commits and new contract deployments, is moderate. Viction has pursued partnerships in Southeast Asia and with enterprise clients, but these have not resulted in high-visibility integrations. The gasless feature is compelling but requires significant DApp growth to demonstrate its value proposition at scale.
Tokenomics
VIC has a circulating supply of approximately 90 million tokens. Masternode operators earn block rewards and a share of transaction fees. The inflationary emission schedule provides yield incentives but creates selling pressure. VIC's value proposition is tied to network usage—as more DApps leverage the gasless protocol, demand for VIC from operators sponsoring gas should increase. However, current usage levels are insufficient to create meaningful demand-side pressure. The token's utility is functional but underutilized.
Market Position
Viction (TomoChain) competes in the mid-tier EVM L1 space, positioned between major L1s and niche application-specific chains. The rebrand from TomoChain to Viction in 2023 aimed to refresh market perception, but market capitalization and ecosystem activity have not shown a significant inflection point. The zero-gas protocol remains a genuine differentiator, though account abstraction (ERC-4337) on Ethereum L2s provides an increasingly competitive alternative. Southeast Asian markets, particularly Vietnam (where the team originates), remain the strongest adoption geography. The Viction gaming initiative and partnerships with regional fintech companies provide incremental growth, but scale remains modest.
Risk Factors
- Low Ecosystem Activity: Despite the rebrand, DApp diversity and user engagement remain limited.
- Rebrand Execution Risk: Transitioning brand identity can fragment community and confuse existing users.
- Competitive Landscape: Account abstraction on Ethereum and other chains reduces the uniqueness of gasless transactions.
- Masternode Centralization: High staking requirements concentrate influence among wealthy participants.
- Market Relevance: The chain struggles for visibility in an increasingly crowded L1 space.
Conclusion
Viction offers a genuinely useful innovation with its zero-gas-fee protocol, addressing a real UX barrier in Web3 adoption. The network is technically sound and has a clean operational track record. However, the ecosystem has not achieved the growth needed to validate the thesis, and the rebrand from TomoChain has yet to demonstrably expand adoption. With Ethereum's account abstraction (ERC-4337) enabling similar gasless experiences on the dominant smart contract platform, Viction's competitive moat may be narrowing. The project presents moderate risk with a niche use case that requires significant growth execution. The success of the rebrand will ultimately be judged by whether Viction can attract new developers and users who were not already part of the TomoChain community.
The Southeast Asian crypto market, while growing rapidly, is increasingly served by larger platforms, and Viction must demonstrate that its gasless UX provides a compelling enough advantage to win developers from more established ecosystems. The next 12-18 months will be critical for validating the rebrand thesis.
Sources
- Viction Official Documentation (https://docs.viction.xyz)
- TomoChain to Viction Rebrand Announcement
- DeFiLlama TVL Data for Viction
- CoinGecko VIC Token Market Data
- Viction GitHub Repository Activity Metrics
- PoSV Consensus Technical Specification
- Viction Zero-Gas Protocol Technical Documentation
- Southeast Asian Crypto Market Analysis Reports