Telegram Partners With TON Foundation For Exclusive Blockchain Integration

According to Cointelegraph, Telegram has announced that it will exclusively support The Open Network (TON) blockchain for its messenger services, including Mini Apps. This decision marks a significant shift as Telegram will cease support for all other blockchains and cryptocurrencies. The move is part of a new partnership between Telegram and the TON Foundation, which was revealed on January 21. The partnership will see TON become the sole blockchain infrastructure for Telegram’s Mini App ecosystem. Additionally, Telegram will continue to accept Toncoin (TON) as the exclusive cryptocurrency for non-fiat transactions involving assets and services offered by the platform. This collaboration builds on the longstanding relationship between Telegram and the TON Foundation, with Telegram consistently endorsing TON as its preferred blockchain network for Web3 infrastructure. The TON Foundation highlighted the impact of Telegram’s TON features on the network's growth, citing updates to Mini Apps, the use of TON for financial transactions, and its advertising platform as key contributors. The exclusivity agreement further strengthens the technological connection between TON and Telegram. As part of this partnership, Telegram will maintain TON as the only token for payments related to services such as Telegram Stars, Telegram Premium, Telegram Ads, and Telegram Gateway, which serves as an alternative to traditional SMS verification. Furthermore, Toncoin will be the sole currency for compensating Telegram Mini App developers and channel owners for their earned Telegram Stars and advertisement revenue. The partnership also establishes TON Connect as the exclusive protocol for linking Telegram Mini Apps to blockchain wallets, ensuring that Mini Apps can only deploy blockchain functionality on TON. Manuel Stotz, the new president of the TON Foundation, emphasized the significance of this exclusive partnership with Telegram as a crucial step in their strategic roadmap. He expressed optimism about TON's potential for substantial growth in 2025, noting Telegram's status as the sixth most downloaded app globally and its role as a prominent platform for free speech and the blockchain community. Stotz highlighted that no other blockchain possesses a comparable distribution vector, underscoring the unique position of TON in the market.