Fantom is a high-performance, scalable blockchain platform designed for dApps and digital assets, utilizing a unique consensus mechanism called Lachesis to achieve near-instant finality. Launched in 2018, Fantom offers fast transaction speeds and low fees, making it an attractive solution for developers and users in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. Its native cryptocurrency, FTM, is used for staking, governance, and transaction fees within the network.