Telegram has announced a major shift in its blockchain strategy by exclusively supporting The Open Network (TON) and its native cryptocurrency, Toncoin, for all in-app services, including payments, Mini Apps, and developer rewards. The move, revealed on January 21, marks a significant deepening of the partnership between Telegram and the TON Foundation.
TON Becomes Telegram’s Sole Blockchain Infrastructure
Telegram will discontinue support for other blockchains like Solana, Sui, and Aptos within its messenger services. Going forward, TON will serve as the exclusive blockchain infrastructure for Telegram’s ecosystem, including the Mini App platform, which allows third-party developers to create apps integrated with Telegram.
Toncoin will now be the only cryptocurrency accepted for payments on Telegram’s services, such as:
- Telegram Premium
- Telegram Ads
- Telegram Stars (used to reward creators and channel owners)
- Telegram Gateway, an SMS verification alternative.
Developers of Mini Apps and channel owners will also exclusively use Toncoin for revenue and payouts.
The Strengthened Partnership Between Telegram and TON
The exclusivity agreement builds on Telegram’s longstanding collaboration with the TON Foundation, which Telegram has consistently endorsed as its preferred blockchain for Web3 infrastructure. According to the TON Foundation, Telegram’s integration of TON features, including its Mini Apps ecosystem and payment services, has been pivotal in driving the network’s growth.
“TON Connect,” a protocol that links blockchain wallets to Telegram Mini Apps, will now become the exclusive method for integrating blockchain functionality into the platform. This means Mini Apps that previously operated on other networks must migrate to TON if they want to include blockchain capabilities.
Toncoin’s Role in Telegram’s Ecosystem
Toncoin has already been a critical part of Telegram’s payment ecosystem as the only non-fiat currency accepted for services. The new agreement cements Toncoin’s role as Telegram’s primary digital asset for in-app transactions, providing developers and users with a unified blockchain ecosystem.
Manuel Stotz, the new president of the TON Foundation, hailed the partnership as a significant milestone for the network.
“Telegram is the sixth most downloaded app globally, a beacon for free speech, and the default messaging platform for the blockchain community. No other blockchain has a comparable distribution vector,” Stotz said. He also added that TON is now poised for rapid growth in 2025.
