TERNOA
also invests Β· investor profile1 known investors
Ternoa provides a runtime security layer for continuously deployed software, using its TIP tool to monitor live systems for source mismatches, dependency compromise, and code tampering, and its CIFER tool to apply NIST-standardized post-quantum cryptography against harvest-now-decrypt-later risks. Its security operations settle on the Base blockchain, and it offers products such as Time Guardian, Athar, Unlinkable, CIFER Hub, and RWA integrations.
Also known as CAPS Β· Ternoa
Investors Β· 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Ternoa is a blockchain and security protocol that packages runtime verification and confidential computing into two main layers: TIP (TEE Integrity Prover), which uses trusted execution environment enclaves to compare running infrastructure against expected state on a 60-second verification cadence and flag source mismatches, dependency compromise and code tampering; and CIFER, a "zero-key" encryption layer that keeps cryptographic operations inside hardware-isolated execution using ML-KEM-768 post-quantum cryptography, with SDK and REST integration paths and a Web2 mode. Verification and encryption operations can create proof commitments on the Base network, and the protocol's $CAPS token is presented as tied to usage-based security fees and operator incentives.
Historically Ternoa described itself as a multi-network, cross-layer protocol combining distributed ledger and confidential computing technologies. Its documentation sets out three interconnected networks: Ternoa Chain, a Substrate-based WASM Layer 1 supporting ink! smart contracts written in Rust, C, C++ or TypeScript with a JavaScript SDK (mainnet since April 2022); Ternoa Fortress, a decentralized TEE-powered coprocessor network acting as a key management system that lets users encrypt off-chain data with on-chain keys (mainnet since September 2023); and Ternoa zkEVM, a Layer 2 validium secured by TEE multi-proofs providing full EVM equivalence. More recent documentation positions Ternoa as a PayFi Layer 2 built on a modular stack of zkEVM, Polygon CDK, Avail DA, a private DAC for redundancy, Polygon AggLayer and a decentralized keystore, with TEE Integrity Proof technology intended to decentralize otherwise centralized Layer 2 infrastructure.
An ecosystem of applications sits on the stack: Time Guardian (encrypted time capsules, digital wills and long-term storage of private assets), Athar (PayFi infrastructure bridging stablecoin payments with everyday commerce in the GCC) and Unlinkable (private Ethereum payments with identity protection) are listed as live, while CIFER Hub β an encrypted workspace with private messaging, secure notes, delegated access and cloud integrations β is listed as in beta. Real-world-asset integrations are also cited as use cases.
Business model
Ternoa offers its security layers as products developers and enterprises integrate via SDK and REST paths rather than rebuilding their stacks. Verification and encryption operations generate commitments on Base, with security fees and operator incentives denominated in the $CAPS token and described as mapped to actual usage.
Security fees tied to verification and encryption operations, with $CAPS used for those fees and for operator incentives.
Traction
The website lists four live products and reach in over 30 countries, with Time Guardian, Athar and Unlinkable marked live and CIFER Hub in beta. Ternoa Chain mainnet has been live since April 2022 and Ternoa Fortress mainnet since September 2023. The CAPS token had about 23.49K holders, circulating supply of roughly 1.28 billion of a 2.49 billion total supply, and an all-time high price of $0.2243 recorded on 7 June 2021.
Latest developments
Ternoa's current positioning is a Web3 security toolkit live on Base, built around TIP integrity proofs and CIFER zero-key encryption, with CIFER Hub in beta and RWA integrations forming around the stack. Documentation also describes a repositioning toward a PayFi Layer 2 architecture using Polygon CDK zkEVM, Avail DA and Polygon AggLayer, with the zkEVM validium mainnet planned for 2024.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Ternoa positions security as a live operating layer rather than a pre-launch audit or static key-management exercise, arguing that audits, key management and compliance screens are insufficient for software that changes hourly, and emphasizing usable products over abstract infrastructure. Its token CAPS is tracked publicly with roughly 23.5K holders and a CertiK rating of 4.2.
Stated differentiators include continuous 60-second runtime verification inside TEE enclaves with ZK proof commitments, chain-agnostic protection, removal of key custody from application code, NIST-standardized post-quantum encryption against harvest-now-decrypt-later risk, and TEE Integrity Proof technology intended to decentralize traditionally centralized Layer 2 components.
Technology
Core technologies are trusted execution environments, zero-knowledge proofs and post-quantum cryptography. TIP captures runtime integrity fingerprints inside TEE enclaves on a continuous 60-second cadence, uses AI security agents to scan the attack surface, and can commit ZK proofs publicly on Base while remaining chain-agnostic. CIFER implements NIST-standardized ML-KEM-768 with TEE-based key management so applications hold no keys in product code. The wider protocol stack comprises a Substrate/WASM Layer 1 supporting ink! smart contracts, the TEE-based Fortress key management coprocessor network, and a zkEVM validium built with Polygon CDK, Avail DA, a private DAC, Polygon AggLayer and a decentralized keystore, secured with TEE multi-proofs.
Go-to-market
Developer-led distribution through documentation, SDKs and REST APIs, wallets, RPC, explorer and staking tooling, plus first-party and ecosystem applications (Time Guardian, Athar, Unlinkable, CIFER Hub) that demonstrate the stack; community channels include GitHub, Discord, X and Medium.
Teams operating continuously deployed Web3 infrastructure, protocols, Web2 applications and AI agent workflows requiring runtime protection, confidential data flows and post-quantum encryption; enterprises are cited as CIFER users, and Athar targets stablecoin payments for everyday commerce in the GCC.
Geography
The website cites reach in more than 30 countries; the Athar application targets stablecoin payments and commerce across the GCC region.
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Timeline Β· 3
launches, deals, and filingsTIP runtime integrity proofs and CIFER zero-key encryption offered as products with commitments settling on Base; Time Guardian, Athar and Unlinkable listed live and CIFER Hub in beta.
Decentralized TEE-powered coprocessor network operating as a key management system reached mainnet.
Substrate-based WASM Layer 1 supporting ink! smart contracts reached mainnet.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
βΈResearch sources Β· 6
primary sources listed
- TERNOAternoa.network Β· web
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does TERNOA do?
- Ternoa is a Web3 security toolkit offering runtime integrity proofs and post-quantum encryption, settling on Base.
- Who are TERNOA's investors?
- TERNOA's investors include Truth Ventures.