Fantom (FTM) in DevSecOps: A Comprehensive Tutorial

Posted on June 14, 2025June 14, 2025 | by priteshgeek

1. Introduction & Overview

What is Fantom?

Fantom is a high-performance, scalable, EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain platform designed for decentralized applications (dApps) and enterprise use. It uses a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) based consensus mechanism known as Lachesis, enabling fast transaction finality with low fees.

History & Background

Founded: 2018 by Dr. Ahn Byung Ik (South Korea).
Motivation: Overcome scalability and latency issues in Ethereum.
Native Token: $FTM (used for staking, governance, and fees).
Ecosystem: Supports DeFi apps, smart contracts, and NFT platforms.

Why Is Fantom Relevant in DevSecOps?

Fantom’s unique characteristics align with DevSecOps goals:

Scalability: Enables secure and high-throughput blockchain-based CI/CD logging or compliance recording.
Speed & Finality: Critical for security tools that need real-time trustless verification.
EVM Compatibility: Makes it easy to integrate with existing Ethereum-based DevSecOps tools.

2. Core Concepts & Terminology

Key Terms & Definitions

Term	Definition
DAG	Graph data structure allowing parallel transaction processing
Lachesis	Fantom’s asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerant (aBFT) consensus algorithm
Opera Chain	Mainnet implementation of Fantom’s blockchain
FTM	Native token used for staking, gas fees, and governance
Smart Contract	Self-executing code deployed on the blockchain
aBFT	Asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerance – a consensus resilience model

How It Fits Into the DevSecOps Lifecycle

DevSecOps Phase	Fantom Utility
Plan	Governance automation, on-chain proposal logging
Develop	Decentralized version control logs or commits
Build	Immutable smart contracts as part of secure builds
Test	Smart contract unit/integration testing with security in mind
Release	Blockchain-based artifact logging
Deploy	Secure infrastructure deployment with on-chain audits
Operate	Real-time event tracking and monitoring via dApps
Monitor	Blockchain analytics on deployments and alerts

3. Architecture & How It Works

Core Components

Lachesis Consensus Engine: Enables asynchronous and fast consensus across nodes.
Opera Chain: Mainnet network executing smart contracts using the EVM.
FTM Token: Used for paying transaction fees and securing the network.
Smart Contracts: Deployed via Solidity (same as Ethereum).
Fantom Wallets: For staking, interacting with dApps, and deploying contracts.

Internal Workflow

Nodes submit transactions to the DAG.
Lachesis orders them using event blocks.
Transactions reach finality in seconds with no need for additional confirmation.
Smart contracts execute securely and deterministically on Opera Chain.

Architecture Diagram (Descriptive)

 [User/DApp] --> [Opera Chain Smart Contract Layer]
                        |
                        v
                [Lachesis Consensus Engine]
                        |
                [Distributed DAG Ledger]

Integration Points with CI/CD or Cloud Tools

GitHub Actions/GitLab CI: Trigger smart contract deployment workflows.
Terraform/Kubernetes: Use Fantom APIs for logging, audit trails, and immutable configurations.
SIEM Tools: Stream on-chain logs to Splunk, ELK Stack via Fantom RPC APIs.
HashiCorp Vault: Securely store Fantom private keys or deployment credentials.

4. Installation & Getting Started

Basic Setup or Prerequisites

Node.js (for dApp interaction)
Metamask or Fantom Wallet
solc or Hardhat for compiling smart contracts
Fantom testnet or mainnet RPC URL
FantomScan (for contract verification)

Step-by-Step: Beginner-Friendly Setup

Step 1: Configure Wallet

# Add Fantom network to Metamask
Network Name: Fantom Opera
RPC URL: https://rpc.ftm.tools/
Chain ID: 250
Currency Symbol: FTM

Step 2: Compile & Deploy Smart Contract

# Install Hardhat
npm install --save-dev hardhat

# Initialize project
npx hardhat

# Create a contract (contracts/SimpleStorage.sol)

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;

contract SimpleStorage {
    uint storedData;

    function set(uint x) public {
        storedData = x;
    }

    function get() public view returns (uint) {
        return storedData;
    }
}

Step 3: Deploy to Fantom

npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.js --network fantom

5. Real-World Use Cases

1. Immutable CI/CD Audit Logs

Record deployment hashes and metadata on Fantom to ensure tamper-proof logging of pipelines.

2. Smart Contract-Based Access Control

Use smart contracts to manage secrets and environment access across DevSecOps pipelines.

3. Security Event Logging

Decentralized logging of penetration testing outcomes or DAST results.

4. Blockchain-Based Artifact Registry

Maintain a blockchain-verified registry of secure software builds or artifacts.

Industry-Specific Examples

Healthcare: On-chain HIPAA compliance evidence logs.
Finance: Immutable transaction signing and approvals.
Supply Chain: Verifiable records of secure delivery software modules.

6. Benefits & Limitations

Key Advantages

High Performance: >4,500 TPS, ideal for real-time DevSecOps events.
Low Cost: Near-zero transaction fees.
Secure & Decentralized: Asynchronous BFT offers robustness.
EVM-Compatible: Leverage existing Ethereum tools and contracts.

Limitations

Smaller Ecosystem: Less mature than Ethereum or Solana.
RPC Limitations: Rate limits may affect high-volume DevSecOps pipelines.
Smart Contract Complexity: Additional learning curve for secure coding practices.

7. Best Practices & Recommendations

Security Tips

Use verified smart contract templates.
Perform thorough code audits (e.g., MythX, Slither).
Avoid hardcoding secrets in contracts.

Performance & Maintenance

Use indexing tools like The Graph for faster access.
Monitor node latency via Fantom’s Health APIs.

Compliance & Automation

Automate compliance logging using Chainlink oracles + Fantom contracts.
Leverage on-chain governance for audit reviews.

8. Comparison with Alternatives

Feature	Fantom	Ethereum	Solana	Avalanche
Consensus	aBFT (Lachesis)	PoW → PoS	PoH + PoS	Avalanche (DAG)
TPS	~4,500	~15–30	~65,000	~4,500+
Finality Time	<2 seconds	~6 minutes	~0.4 seconds	~1–2 seconds
Gas Fees	Low	High	Low	Moderate
DevSecOps Use Case	✅	✅	⚠️ (less mature)	✅

When to Choose Fantom

Need real-time, low-cost logging for DevSecOps.
Want EVM compatibility with better performance.
Running privacy-sensitive dApps with compliance logging.

9. Conclusion

Final Thoughts

Fantom offers an efficient, secure, and scalable platform for integrating blockchain into DevSecOps. From immutable logs to smart contract-based controls, its capabilities can enhance transparency, security, and automation.