TIP-20 is Tempo's token standard: an ERC-20 superset adding USD-denominated gas payment, 32-byte transfer memos, reward distribution, role-based controls, and TIP-403 compliance hooks. It is how stablecoins are issued on Tempo.

What does TIP-403 do?

TIP-403 is Tempo's shared compliance policy registry. A TIP-20 can point at a TIP-403 policy — a whitelist or blacklist — checked on every transfer for both sender and recipient. New tokens default to policy 1 (always-allow).

How is a stablecoin created on Tempo?

Through the TIP-20 Factory (at 0x20fc…), the system contract whose createToken() function is the single canonical path for issuing a TIP-20.

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The protocol

TIP-20 & TIP-403 token standards

TIP-20 is Tempo's stablecoin-focused ERC-20 superset; TIP-403 is the shared compliance policy registry that TIP-20 tokens point at for allowlist/blocklist checks on every transfer.

6 min read · Updated 2026-06-08

TIP-20: stablecoins, not just tokens

TIP-20 is Tempo's native token standard — an ERC-20 superset purpose-built for stablecoins. It keeps full ERC-20 compatibility while adding the features a regulated dollar token needs:

USD-denominated gas payment (a TIP-20 can be used to pay fees)
32-byte transfer memos for reconciliation
opt-in reward distribution to holders
role-based controls for issuers
TIP-403 compliance hooks (allowlist / blocklist / freeze)

Every stablecoin on Tempo is issued as a TIP-20.

The TIP-20 Factory

Tokens are not deployed ad hoc. The TIP-20 Factory (at 0x20fc…) is the system contract that mints every TIP-20 via createToken(). It is the single, canonical path for issuing a stablecoin on Tempo, which keeps every dollar token on the network consistent and discoverable.

TIP-403: shared compliance policy

Rather than every token re-implementing its own access control, Tempo provides a shared compliance policy registry: TIP-403 (at 0x403c…).

A TIP-20 can point at a TIP-403 policy — a whitelist or blacklist — that is checked on every transfer, for both sender and recipient. New tokens default to policy 1 (always-allow), so compliance is opt-in but standardised. This means issuers get regulator-grade controls without writing bespoke gating logic, and the rules are transparent on-chain.

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Citations

Sources

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Frequently asked

What is TIP-20?: TIP-20 is Tempo's token standard: an ERC-20 superset adding USD-denominated gas payment, 32-byte transfer memos, reward distribution, role-based controls, and TIP-403 compliance hooks. It is how stablecoins are issued on Tempo.
What does TIP-403 do?: TIP-403 is Tempo's shared compliance policy registry. A TIP-20 can point at a TIP-403 policy — a whitelist or blacklist — checked on every transfer for both sender and recipient. New tokens default to policy 1 (always-allow).
How is a stablecoin created on Tempo?: Through the TIP-20 Factory (at 0x20fc…), the system contract whose createToken() function is the single canonical path for issuing a TIP-20.